None of Hounslow's 37 tower blocks have a valid fire risk assessment in place, it emerged today.

And of those, 21 are rated as being at high risk from fire, the BBC reported from the findings of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

It comes after a blaze in July which killed six people at Lakanal House, Southwark - a block that had been given a medium risk rating.

Hounslow is among 10 London councils which have confirmed they have one or more tower blocks rated as high risk because of "possible occurrence of an extremely harmful event or likely occurrence of a harmful event".

A surveyor who visited one block in Hounslow told the BBC the danger there was "off the Richter scale".

Bernadette O'Shea, chief executive of Hounslow Homes, which runs housing for Hounslow Council, said: "We have sent our own technical team out to investigate the concerns highlighted by BBC London and await their report.

"We have commissioned a firm to undertake new, detailed fire-risk assessments, beginning on 6 October.

"We would like to reassure our residents that we are doing all we can to minimise the risk of a similar incident [to the Lakanal House fire] happening."

Although councils are legally obliged to ensure fire regulations are followed, no organisation has been policing the rules.

Councillor Andrew Dakers, leader of Hounslow's Liberal Democrats, said he was "shocked" by the investigation, and has called for Hounslow Homes to organise an urgent public meeting.

He said: “When I first asked questions of Hounslow Homes’ officers regarding fire safety in July 2009 the lack of fire risk assessments was not brought to my attention.

"It is impossible for councillors to do our job of mobilising more resources for priority issues if we are not given the fullest information in the first place."

He added: “I have today called on the chief executive of Hounslow Homes to organise a public meeting immediately to set out measures that will be taken to improve safety.

"Hounslow Homes must now be given the fullest backing by the local council, our local MP and the Treasury to ensure that the necessary money is found for improvement works.

“We must now have independent assessors to advise on whether gas is still appropriate for cooking in the tower blocks or whether we should move to electric.

"We must see further improvements to signage. We must look at installing alarm systems and introducing fire drills. And we must see action taken on all the other risks identified by the BBC’s surveyor.”

Councillor Jon Hardy, executive member for housing, said: “Hounslow Homes responded immediately to the Camberwell fire with a programme to review fire safety across its homes. A series of measures were instigated quickly; others are being implemented as soon as possible.

“The BBC London programme has helped in identifying areas for improvement in fire protection; these are being addressed as quickly as possible by Hounslow Homes."

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