Questions of safety after Haringey Council delays securing site

4.33.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Apr 2007

A fire at the 'log cabins' located between Fairfax and Falklands Road in Harringay ward has prompted Lib Dem councillors to point the finger at the Labour Council's failure to secure the site when requested. Fire engines were called at 7pm on 17 th April 2007. Lib Dems say that had the site been secure this incident would have never occurred.

Lib Dems supported demands from residents for to be site to be secured after fears that the 'log cabins', that are due to be demolished soon', could be an attraction to vandals. The Council gave assurances that the site was secure but the recent incident has put this promise into question.

Cllr Carolyn Baker (Harringay Ward) comments:

"The Council's inability to ensure the demolition was carried out promptly and their failure to adequately secure the buildings and the surrounding area has put the public at risk and added to the costs of emergency services that are already stretched."

Cllr Karen Alexander (Harringay Ward) adds:

"I was surprised at the complete confusion surrounding the fire - the Council did not seem to know what had happened and that does not give me or the local residents much confidence in the Council."