Reply to:

CityWest Homes

21 Grosvenor Place

London

SW1X 7EA

Tel: 020 7245 2371

Email:

Web:

Date: Monday 16October 2017

Dear Resident,

Temporary changes to your fire evacuation procedure in the event of a fire

Following new guidance from London Fire Brigade the fire evacuation procedure for your building will temporarily change from today, Monday 16 October. This is a temporary measure until the cladding is completely removed from your building, which is due to be complete by the end of November 2017.

First and foremost we want to reassure you that you and your family are safe within your home and there is no need for alarm.

Residents on the 10th floor and above

From today, if you live on the 10th floor or above,London Fire Brigade has advised you should leave rather than stay put.Advice on what to do in the event of a fire if you live on the 10th floor or above is provided with this letter.

Residents on the 9th floor and below

If you liveon the 9th floor or below, the advice from London Fire Brigade is unchanged and you should still remain in your home, unless there is a fire in your flat oryou are told to leave by the emergency services.

Two trained fire wardens will be in your building 24 hours a day to manage this temporary change. They are trained to assist with detecting a fire and will continually patrol floors 10 and above. Your security guards will continue to patrol all other floors and the exterior of the building. In the event of a fire, the fire wardens will summon the emergency services and ensure residentson floors 10 and above are alerted to begin a full evacuation.

Due to the location of your local fire stations, London Fire Brigade will be on site within six minutes in the event of a fire and will then manage the evacuation of all floors from this point if needed.

We havelocked the windows in the communal staircases and will be sealing the vents above mezzanine corridor doors to ensure, in the unlikely event of a fire, the staircase and escape corridors are protected from external smoke penetration.

Vulnerable residents

If you are a vulnerable resident, we will contact you to support you through these changes. If you feel a neighbour or member of your household would have difficulty negotiating the stairs in an emergency evacuation please visit the estate office or call 020 7245 2371.

We will be knocking on the doors of all residents this week to talk to you about the changes and ensure that you are aware of what to do in the event of a fire. Your evacuation procedure on your communal noticeboards will be updated today.

We are holding an information session on the changes where members of the estate office and fire safety experts will talk you through the new evacuation procedure. You are encouraged to attend this event on Tuesday 17 October at Warwick Hall from 2-5pm. This event replaces the usual Wilmcote House drop-in session, which will not take place on Thursday for this week only.

The Little Venice estate office will be open until 7.30pm today to help answer your queries concerning the new fire evacuation procedure.

You can also attend your regular drop-in session as below:

Drop-in session / Date / Time
Brinklow House / Tuesday / 10am – 12 midday
Gaydon House / Tuesday / 2 – 4pm
Oversley House / Wednesday / 10am – 12 midday
Polesworth House / Wednesday / 2 – 4pm
Princethorpe House / Thursday / 10am – 12 midday
Warwick Hall / Friday / 9am – 11am

In the meantime please contact a member of the Little Venice estate team. They are available to assist in person at the Little Venice estate office from Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm (until 7.30pm today and 6.30pm every Wednesday) and at drop-in sessions. Alternatively you can call 020 7245 2371 or email .

We will continue to keep you updated.

Yours faithfully,

Jonathan Cowie

Chief Executive

CityWest Homes

Temporary fire evacuation procedure for floors 10 and above

If a fire occurs in your home:

  • ensure all your family are evacuated immediately
  • close your flat door behind you
  • alert a fire warden
  • leave the building.

If a fire occurs in another part of the building:

  • fire wardens will alert the emergency services
  • fire wardens will sound a horn to alert residents and will begin evacuating those living on floor 10 and above
  • if you hear the horn or hear the wardens knocking on your door, please evacuate your home quickly. We recommend you pre-pack a ‘grab pack’ of warm clothing and personal possessions in case you are asked to remain outside the building for some time
  • ensure that your flat door is closed as you leave your flat
  • stay calm, make your way to the staircase and follow the directions of the fire warden
  • carefully make your way down the staircase - if you need assistance, please let the fire warden know
  • when you reach the ground floor, move quickly away from the exit door to allow others to exit
  • wardens will direct you on exit to a meeting point at Little Venice estate office, 300 Harrow Road, W2 5HG where you will be checked in
  • only return to the building once London Fire Brigade has confirmed it is safe.