• I WOULD like to correct a factual error in your article, (Chalcots alarm ‘failed’ during blaze, February 25).

A well known resident representative has been quoted talking about the presence of smoke “alarms” in “communal areas” which “do not work” or that they “failed” during the recent fire incident in one of the flats.

If I may just say, there are no smoke alarms in communal areas and this is not a requirement.

The only smoke alarms in the Chalcots are inside the flats, meant to alert members of that household only in case there is a fire in their own flat; and according to the report from the London Fire Brigade, the smoke alarm in the affected flat was working.

Residents are responsible to press a button and test their own alarms regularly. I am grateful to residents if they could continue to report any failure to the dedicated Chalcots repairs line, and this will be dealt with swiftly.

If the quote in the article by the resident was meant to refer to the smoke detectors which operate AOV automatic vents to ventilate the build up of smoke, out from communal areas in the event of a fire, there is a rigorous testing regime in place for these.

All five blocks were tested and certified with a clean bill of health as recently as in December last year, and during the latest fire incident last week, all the AOVs that needed to operate did work.

I would like to politely suggest that elected resident representatives who agree to be quoted in newspapers have a responsibility to ensure that what they say on record is factual.

This is because they are trusted by the community, and it is irresponsible to feed inaccurate information and cause alarm and distress to their neighbours.

I have personally been contacted by a number of worried residents after the publication of the article. I truly regret if you feel you were misled and alarmed needlessly.

I am always grateful to the CNJ for keeping us on our toes, and long may it continue.

However, on this occasion a little patience and due diligence to verify the quote given to you by a resident would have avoided this unnecessary anxiety among the Chalcots residents who read your article, especially given that it was used in the headline of your story.

CLLR MERIC APAK
Cabinet Member for Better Homes