Fiona Garerett and her son Joshua, who died after a balcony collapsed in Holborn

THE Conservative candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election has written to the council demanding answers about what is being done to protect residents in tall buildings following the death of Joshua Robbins.

Ewan Cameron questioned why a full scale investigation had not been launched in the wake of the tragedy at Holland and Thurston Dwellings, Holborn, where 23-year-old Joshua fell to his death from the fifth floor earlier this year.

Detectives have already revealed they are working with the Crown Prosecution Service on a potential manslaughter case after the discovery of “erosion” in steel fixtures in the communal walkway balcony.

But Mr Cameron, a former Camden councillor in the 1990s, believes that the Town Hall is also accountable as it has a legal duty to ensure all buildings in the borough are meeting standards.

In his letter to the council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali and the current better homes chief Anna Wright, Mr Cameron said: “A preventable building-safety death has already occurred in this borough and I need to know, without further delay, what Camden has done to satisfy itself that no other resident is living behind a comparable untested or corroded balustrade or barrier.

“The council is responsible for the safety of people living in this borough, whether they occupy a council home, a housing-association home or a privately rented home. After a communal safety barrier has failed and a young man has died, the public is entitled to know what the Council did in the days and weeks that followed, and what it can now prove about the condition of similar barriers across the borough.”

Mr Cameron said that Camden has the enforcement powers at its disposal if serious failings or hazards are found during an inspection.

“Camden does not have to wait for a death. A resident complaint, a neighbour report, or the council’s own intelligence is enough to trigger an inspection. Camden has used these powers before on high-rise fire and structural risks in buildings it does not own.”

The New Journal has been demanding answers from the council about checks on its crumbling housing stock since Mr Robbins’ parents launched the Joshua Test and No More Falls campaign earlier this year.

Six months before Joshua died, a 58-year-old man was killed after a panel gave way on the second floor balcony of a council-owned block in the Campden House, Harben Road estate in Swiss Cottage.

This week, Joshua’s mother Fiona Garrett called on the election candidates to commit to meaningful action if they are elected in Holborn and St Pancras.

She is determined to make sure changes are implemented and that her 23-year-old son did not die in vain. Each of the candidates have met with Ms Garrett, except for the current council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali who was Camden’s housing chief when Mr Robbins died on 29 January.

This week, Ms Abdi-Wali told the New Journal she would “absolutely take Joshua’s case forward” if elected and that she had raised the matter with government ministers.

She said: “This is a really tragic case, and I have such admiration for Fiona Garrett and her family in how they’ve campaigned so passionately on this issue.

“Every building should be safe and I’m supportive of the Joshua Test campaign to improve building safety. Nobody else should have to experience these tragic circumstances.”

She added: “Developers must be held to account by the relevant authorities and I’ll push ministers to strengthen this. Housing providers and developers must uphold their obligations. No more half measures, cost-cutting or excuses. I’ll take that fight to parliament.”

Patrick Stillman, above, and Zack Polanski both met with Ms Garrett

Green candidate Zack Polanski confirmed he would also take the case on and meet with Ms Garrett within 30 days if elected.

He said: “One of the first issues I raise in parliament and will highlight in my maiden speech will be to urge the government to open a formal consultation on how to build on existing safety legislation follow­ing Grenfell, with the aim of creating a universal statutory requirement for ongoing structural safety checks of residential balconies and communal railings and to implement a cross government review into existing safety legislation and guidance.”

He said he would meet with the housing minister and introduce a Private Members Bill or 10 Minute Rule Bill requiring the extension of the 2022 Act to include ongoing safety checks for railing and safeguards.

Lib Dem candidate Patrick Stillman confirmed he too would take the case forward and meet with Ms Garrett within 30 days if elected.

He said he was ready to “raise the proposals with the housing and building safety ministers and seek a clear government response”.

Ms Garrett said: “Whoever is elected will inherit more than Keir Starmer’s former seat. His constituency office has confirmed that Joshua’s case is active and marked for handover to the next MP. That person will inherit a responsibility to Joshua’s family, to local residents and to everyone living at height.”

She added: “I am asking candidates to read the Joshua Test Green Paper properly and commit to practical parliamentary action on the inspection, testing, maintenance, verification and recording of residential balustrades and barriers. This must be about more than warm words, sympathy or photographs. I want to know what each candidate will actually do, who they will approach, what parliamentary mechanisms they will use and the timetable against which they are prepared to be held accountable.

“The most urgent question is simple: what is being put in place right now that could prevent another person falling tomorrow? Families should not have to wait for another death before missing records, corrosion, movement or unsafe barriers trigger competent inspection and testing.

“My son died in Holborn in January. I should not have to persuade those seeking to represent the constituency that his death—and the safety failures surrounding it—matter. The next MP must be prepared to pursue ownership, accountability and lasting change.”

Ms Garrett said her campaign is “deliberately cross-party” and she would work constructively with whoever is elected, adding: “But I will also hold them to the commitments they make before polling day.”

ISHA has said it is co-operating fully with the Metropolitan Police investigation. The council said it was not responsible for “remedial actions” in non-council properties.

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We want all our residents to be safe and feel safe in their homes. We are aiming to ensure all aspects of our council homes are frequently checked so they are as safe as possible. We also encourage residents to tell us if they are worried about the safety of their balcony railings or panels, so our repair team can come and inspect them. Our private sector enforcement team can also look at hazards that are identified or reported to them in properties not owned by the council.”