PARENTS of a young man who died after a fifth floor railings “gave way” are demanding urgent safety inspections are made to housing block balconies.

Fiona Jane Garrett and Will Robbins launched a No More Falls campaign three weeks after their son Joshua Robins fell died in the forecourt of the Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association-run Holland and Thurston block in Newton Street, Holborn, on January 29.

They want to honour their 23-year-old son by urging everyone who lives in high-rise buildings to demand landlords check the safety of their railings. It follows the death a 58-year-old council tenant who fell through a balcony panel last June.

Announcing the campaign in an online statement, Ms Garrett said: “We have five clear demands to ensure no more lives are lost. Josh’s life mattered, and his death matters. Safety is paramount, regardless of class, salary, or housing situation.”

The five demands are for mandatory safety inspections, urgent make-safe actions, a national reporting system of failures, clarity over legal responsibility and better enforcement.

Ms Garrett said: “All railings balconies and barriers in housing must be regularly inspected and structurally assessed. All loose, corroded or unsafe barriers must be made safe and repaired without delay. Serious defects and collapse must be recorded and investigated nationally. Landlords are building owners to be made responsible for all safety barriers in residential buildings. Failure to inspect or repair must lead to enforcement, fines and legal action.”

The estate in Holborn where Joshua fell to his death

Joshua’s parents’ campaign has made a logo showing a silhouette of a person falling from railings, under the banner “no more falls – support Josh’s legacy”. Investigations are ongoing and an official cause of the balcony barrier collapse is yet to be established with ISHA yet to accept any culpability.

Last week, the parents received the death certificate from the coroner and said in a statement that the “document makes everything feel devastatingly real in a way nothing else has”.

They added: “We are holding on to the promise we made to him: that we will seek truth, accountability, and justice for our son. Every single pound donated to Josh’s fighting fund is helping us build his advocacy fund – to ensure his voice is heard and that the answers he deserves are pursued with strength and proper representation. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing beside us in this unbearable time.”

Almost £3,000 has been raised from supporters on a GoFundMe page. Ms Garrett, who lives in Claudy, Ireland, and Mr Robbins have also had a response from Sir Keir Starmer, after they requested a meeting to promote the No More Falls campaign.

The Holborn and St Pancras MP and prime minister wrote back saying enquiries “have been made and we will continue to do all we can to help you get ans­wers”, adding that his constituency office will “re­main in regular contact”.

At the end he hand-wrote: “My thoughts are with you”, before signing his name.

Last June a 58-year-old man died after falling from a balcony in a council-run block, Campden House in Swiss Cottage. In that case, a glass barrier in the balcony gave way. Around 250 households on the Harben Road estate, which was built in the mid-50s, had emergency locks fitted to balcony doors following the tragedy.

Pippa Fleetwood-Read, chief executive at ISHA, said: “The death of Joshua is extremely sad and distressing. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his parents, his family and his friends at this very difficult time. We are doing everything we can to support everyone living at Holland and Thurston Dwellings. This includes counselling support, an enhanced on-site presence to hear any concerns and responding to the questions we can with weekly written updates. We continue to co-operate with the ongoing police investigation.”