INVESTIGATION: Andrew Pope Discovers Fire Safety Breaches at Shirley Towers Scene of 2010 Fatal Fire

 

Andrew Pope at a Very Wet Shirley Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents

UPDATE (22/2/26): There was a fire at Shirley Towers today. Andrew Pope was canvassing for the Shirley by-election nearby and saw the fire appliances and firefighters on site. He spoke with the first and second Incident Commanders of the fire service, and asked whether they knew that the ground floor sprinklers had been out of action since the fire in the bin area in December. They both said that they were not aware before attending, and thanked Andrew for the information. This information was from Andrew listening and acting for residents, and speaking to Council housing officers. Labour councillor for housing Andy Frampton has once again been found wanting - let's not forget he refused to answer Andrew's questions for residents about fire safety and damp and mould.

UPDATE (20/2/26): A fire "drill" appears to have been carried out at Shirley Towers. Andrew Pope says:

"I will keep up the pressure on the Council to protect residents and leaseholders. I should not have to use the media to pressure the Council, but I have had to again.

I acted to protect people in 2017 with my campaign for sprinklers in all Council tower blocks and I continue to act to protect.

It is terrible that Labour's Councillor Andy Frampton refused to act when I asked him to. Thankfully, there are some good officers of the Council who care and the Fire Service care too. Labour have to go."

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Following up on his previous campaigning on fire safety in Council tower blocks, Andrew Pope has been investigating the concerns of Shirley Towers residents.

What he has found is very disturbing, considering that he campaigned for sprinklers to be installed in all twenty Council tower blocks. 

Two firefighters - Alan Bannon and James Shears - died in a fatal fire at Shirley Towers in 2010. A memorial plaque was unveiled in 2023. 

Andrew says: 

"The Labour Councillor and Cabinet Member for Housing Andy Frampton is trying to avoid accountability for ongoing fire safety breaches. It is unacceptable that he refused to answer residents' concerns when I contacted him directly.

As in 2018, when I brought BBC Radio 5 Live to Southampton, fire doors are compromised and not fixed in a timely manner. When I reported it to officers, they asked if it had been reported.

It is the responsibility of the Council to regularly inspect and fix.

And now, I have learned from multiple residents that some sprinklers are not working and have not been since December, after a fire in the bin area.

I have not seen any media report of that fire, so I am bringing it to the media's attention.

Residents are worried, so I am trying to get action and answers.

It has been difficult to even reach the right people to get action taken or get reassurance.

I will not stand by and let residents be put at risk again."

 

Compromised fire door in Shirley Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents

Andrew's campaign for sprinklers in all Council tower blocks began before the Grenfell disaster in 2017, and after the Redbridge Towers fire when he was Independent Redbridge ward councillor.

As documented on the Southampton Independents website, his campaign encountered stiff resistance from Councillor Warwick Payne of the Labour-run Council who said that residents did not want sprinklers and

here on Youtube you can hear Payne claim that he did not have the money to do what Andrew was asking him to do for residents.

 

Our campaign led by Andrew Pope forced the Council to do it for all 20 Council tower blocks. Left to the Tories or other big political parties, it would not have happened. 

 

EXCLUSIVE: Seven Years After Grenfell and Redbridge Towers City Council Tower Blocks STILL Have "High Risk" Fire Safety Failings

 

The 2017 Daily Echo Headline That Began Our Fire Safety Campaign
After the Redbridge Towers Fire

We can exclusively reveal that Southampton City Council still has "high risk" fire safety failings in its tower blocks, seven years after the Redbridge Towers fire in early 2017.

Southampton Independents led the campaign for better fire safety in Council tower blocks and secured a commitment from the Council for sprinklers to be installed in all Council tower blocks.

Later that year, the Grenfell disaster occurred in London, with 72 victims.

Two years ago, we reported that there were still problems. 

Now, a Southampton City Council report that we have obtained states that:

"17 high risk fire actions are overdue"

The report does not state which blocks these are in, or what the risks are.

Andrew Pope, who led the campaign for sprinklers in all Council tower blocks, says:

Andrew Pope on ITV News after Redbridge Towers fire in 2017

 

"This news does not surprise me. I have seen the state of repair of tower blocks in the City, including Shirley Towers when I stood as a candidate in the recent by-election.

Southampton City Council is a bad landlord. I've heard so many complaints from tenants of the Council and not just in tower blocks. Even the Director of Housing has admitted it, saying and I quote:

'Over the last few years, our performance relating to our housing landlord function has fallen below an acceptable standard. We must and will do better.'

BBC Radio 5 Live initially did not believe me when I told them that the Council was failing on fire safety in its tower blocks.

So I showed their journalist Adrian Goldberg, having invited him to come to Southampton. He was shocked and published video footage on the BBC website.

Yet all these years later, the Labour-run Council still have not got a grip on fire safety. I will be writing to the Cabinet Member for Housing, Labour Councillor Andy Frampton, asking for more information and demanding action."

ON 10TH OCTOBER VOTE POPE, ANDREW DOUGLAS – THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE – FOR SHIRLEY WARD SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL

Andrew Pope Election Address

VOTE POPE, ANDREW DOUGLAS – THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE –

FOR SHIRLEY WARD SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL THIS THURSDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2024

Shirley residents have had enough of political parties. I asked them. They encouraged me to stand as an Independent candidate. So I am, proving that I listen, I act. What issues matter to you? As I say in my leaflets and letters, I am here to listen and act – wisely - for residents. So that is exactly what I have been doing. Email me at sotonindies@gmail.com to tell me what matters to you.

The buses or lack of buses? The 20mph signs on Hill Lane and Shirley Road? Crime? Winter fuel payments cut by Southampton Labour MPs? Labour’s bankrupt Council? Our country run into the ground by Tory failures? Labour or Tory, same old story – do you agree? Time to vote differently…

I believe that I am the best candidate. Why? I hope that you agree with the following reasons:

·     I have eight years of experience as a Southampton City Councillor. This is more than all of the other candidates put together, with some who have no experience at all.

·     I have helped thousands of people over the years, with issues on flooding, mental health, sustainable transport, housing, power cuts, safety at St. Mary’s Stadium, sprinklers and fire safety, planning applications, noise nuisance, smoke control, parking, policing, anti-social behaviour, and much more. You can see more on the www.sotonindies.org website.

·     I have won many substantial and long-running campaigns for Southampton’s people, as shown in my positive pink leaflet, with evidence that can be clicked through on the www.sotonindies.org website that links to articles on the websites of the Daily Echo, BBC Hampshire, BBC Radio Solent and more.

·    I live and work in Shirley, running my own PopeyMon Consultancy business and interviewing the public as a professional interviewer for vital Government surveys on health, education, transport and more.

·    My pink leaflet is printed here in Southampton, supporting local business. Are the others?

·    I am not with any of the political parties. I am doing this because I believe that Southampton City Council needs independent representation again. And Shirley does too.

·    Like I did when I was councillor before in the Redbridge ward, I ask the questions that other councillors do not ask. I find out things that they do not. I take actions that they do not.

On 10^th October, Vote Andrew Douglas Pope X - for a Council run for Southampton residents.

Look for Pope, Andrew Douglas on the ballot paper when you vote. It will not say “Independent” or have a party emblem – just my name. I hope that you will vote for me. Thanks for reading.

Best wishes, Andrew Douglas Pope, Independent Candidate for Shirley Ward

VOTE ANDREW DOUGLAS POPE INDEPENDENT FOR SHIRLEY WARD ON SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL ON 10TH OCTOBER 2024

Andrew Douglas Pope
Independent Candidate for Shirley

"I pledge to listen and act for you. I will ask questions the other councillors do not ask.

I stand up for you in the media.

I have a proven track record of delivery.

I try to be the change that you want to see.

I've helped thousands of people over the years."

In Shirley Ward on 10th October, elect a proven winner for Southampton and its great people.

Vote Andrew Douglas Pope 

Independent Candidate for Shirley Ward on 10th October 2024

Andrew Pope Founded Southampton Independents With Other Residents

Andrew Pope was Southampton City Councillor for eight years in the Maybush, Millbrook and Redbridge areas of Southampton between 2011-2019, first for Labour and then after standing for Parliament in the 2015 General Election in New Forest East, he resigned from Labour in disgust at what the Labour Council were doing to the City and the people in the area that he represented passionately and skilfully.

 

 

With the support of other residents, Andrew founded Southampton Independents and became its first ever councillor. 

Andrew did not stand for Council in 2019. The Council was not bankrupt then. But having seen the dire state of the Council over recent years under new Labour MP Satvir Kaur's leadership before she quit the Council to vote at Parliament for cuts to pensioners, Andrew spoke to residents. He says:

"Standing as an Independent is different to the Westminster political parties. 

I asked them and residents encouraged me to stand for Council and said that they would vote for me."

So Andrew is standing in the Shirley by-election as an Independent candidate.

He runs his own business in Shirley, PopeyMon Games and Consultancy, a technology consultancy and also repairs and trades vintage toys and games.

As well as many years experience listening and acting for Southampton people, Andrew listens carefully to the public every day as a professional interviewer for official surveys. These surveys are run for Government and charities. Andrew listens and records people's views and experiences on the NHS, education, work, transport, housing, mental health, the signs of ageing and on broadcast media.

These surveys are used to make important policy decisions by Government and campaigners.

Councillor Andrew Pope on BBC South Today
Standing Up For Southampton

Andrew Pope's Proven Record of Delivery

 

Andrew Pope Campaigning For Safe Standing
At St. Mary's Stadium

 

As a councillor and campaigner outside the Council, Andrew Pope has a track record of winning for Southampton:

• EXPERT IN COUNCIL FINANCES, LEADERSHIP AND CAMPAIGNING - trained by the Local Government Association in council finance and leadership. Andrew is a proven campaign winner, shown across the Southampton Independents website. Click the links below, or search the website using the web version search, or scroll down on your phone.
  
• WON CAMPAIGN FOR SPRINKLERS IN ALL COUNCIL TOWER BLOCKS - a campaign that he started after the Shirley Towers deaths and after the Redbridge Towers fire, months before the Grenfell disaster later in 2017.
  
• WON 7-YEAR “SAFE STANDING” CAMPAIGN AT ST MARY’S STADIUM BY WORKING WITH SOUTHAMPTON FC
• STOPPED LABOUR COUNCIL PLAN TO CHARGE YOU TO USE YOUR VEHICLE ON OUR ROADS BY CALLING FOR A REFERENDUM AND THEY U-TURNED!
• IN 2014/15 (before Southampton Independents website was created), WON COMPENSATION FROM POWER COMPANIES FOR 100s OF RESIDENTS
• GETS RESULTS AND HOLDS COUNCIL TO ACCOUNT FOR RESIDENTS - this website shows some, but not all, of his results. Andrew's work is in the Daily Echo, on BBC South Today (see photo above), on BBC Radio Solent and on the local BBC News website and Wave 105 Radio. Nationally, Andrew's work has appeared in The Guardian, the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail (on the living wage and minimum wage) and other national printed and TV news.
  
• INVESTIGATES AND PUBLISHES ON THIS SOUTHAMPTON INDEPENDENTS WEBSITE - just use the search on the web version, or scroll down on your phone to see his hard work
  

In Shirley Ward on 10th October, elect a proven winner for Southampton and its great people.

Vote Andrew Douglas Pope Independent for Shirley Ward on 10th October 2024.

 

FIRE SAFETY FAULTS - Southampton Labour Council's Sticky Tape for Fire Safety

Detector and Duct Tape

We have listened to residents of tower blocks across Southampton.

Residents are very worried about the failings of Southampton City Council to provide adequate safety against fire. 

There are THOUSANDS of people who live in the City Council's tower blocks. As shown in fire safety reports, in just ONE block there can be 300-400 people.

We listened to residents' worries after the Redbridge Towers fire back in April 2017.

We listened to the reports on fire safety that residents had given to Southampton City Council, which alarmingly had not been acted upon by the Labour-run Council for YEARS. When the Tories had run the Council, they were no better.

Since the Grenfell Tower disaster, residents have understandably become even more concerned about the failures of the Council to protect them by improving fire safety.

Southampton Independents has repeatedly asked the Council to address residents' concerns IMMEDIATELY. Yet the Council has dithered, or not acted at all.

We have asked why the Council has neglected safety for years. We don't yet have the answers, or enough action. The photo above, taken on Friday 13th October 2017, shows how pathetic the Southampton Labour Council is. A fire detector and tile held on with sticky tape. We have plenty more evidence of Labour's failures.

As shown on this website, Southampton Independents won its campaign for the Council to commit to installing sprinklers in ALL tower blocks. And as shown on this website, the Labour Councillor responsible for Housing, Councillor Warwick Payne, did not want to do it. It was our campaign, working with residents, that made him and the Labour Council change their minds.

We have been repeatedly informing the media about the failures of the Council. Why? Because the Council wasn't listening. And the Council wasn't acting to protect residents.

We are pleased that the BBC, ITV, the Daily Echo and Wave 105 have all reported on the failings of the Council to install sprinklers for seven years after the Shirley Towers tragedy and to take action to protect residents.

We thank all of our media colleagues for helping us to expose and put pressure on the Council.

And we thank residents across Southampton for telling us about the continuing failures of the Labour-run Council to protect them.

Southampton Independents has listened.

Southampton Independents has acted.

Please see our related article for some of the latest evidence we have gathered.

It shows that Labour Councillor for Housing, Cabinet member Warwick Payne and the Labour Leader of the Council Councillor Simon Letts, who is ultimately responsible for Property and the performance of Cabinet members, have continued to put lives at risk DESPITE all of the warnings and complaints.

They both should resign in shame.

And if they do not resign as councillors, we ask Southampton residents to VOTE LABOUR OUT IN MAY 2018 at the City Council elections. Labour only has a majority of two seats of 48.

And don't forget, the Tories were rubbish at running the Council before Labour got in.

Vote for Southampton Independents candidates at the May 2018 local elections.

Southampton Independents stand up for action, not words.

Council STILL Failing on Fire Safety in Tower Blocks

Research and evidence gathered by Southampton Independents shows that despite:

1. the fatal Grenfell Tower tragedy in London on 14th June 2017, which killed around 100 people but for which the investigation has not concluded, and
2. the fatal Shirley Towers tragedy in Southampton 5th April 2010, in which two firefighters were killed and the Coroner making recommendations to the Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS), and
3. the Redbridge Towers fire in Southampton on 9th April 2017, which thankfully killed nobody

that fire safety in the Southampton City Council’s tower blocks is lacking in several ways, including a lack of sprinklers, a lack of adequate signage and a lack of standard cabling. 

Leader of Southampton Independents, Denise Wyatt, says:

“Southampton City Council claims to have fire assessments done “regularly”, and that its fire assessments are up-to-date.  

Yet these flaws in fire safety are very clear to residents and Southampton Independents has provided evidence to the media this week. 

Southampton Independents is calling for fire safety in tower blocks to be properly and independently assessed in the City’s tower blocks, NOT by the Council and NOT by 3SFire which is not “independent”, as claimed by the Council. 

More evidence on the lack of fire safety will be published by Southampton Independents in the near future. 

It seems that Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council are not the only Council to fail on fire safety. Southampton City Council has failed to take action, whether under Labour or Conservative control since Shirley Towers in 2010. 

Why did it take pressure from Southampton Independents and public opinion following the Grenfell disaster to make the Council take action? That is totally wrong.”

Sign the Petition: We Are STILL Campaigning for Sprinklers - Are you?

The fire damaged Redbridge Towers

The Grenfell Tower tragedy in London has brought attention in Southampton back to fire safety in our City, and the Shirley Towers tragedy in 2010 where two firefighters were killed.

After the Redbridge Towers Fire in April this year, we listened to residents who wanted sprinklers installed. It is accepted that sprinklers save lives, and would likely have stopped the loss of lives at Shirley Towers.

Here is some of the work that we did with residents.

We listened to you and stood up for you. We worked with you to generate the headlines in the Daily Echo and spoke up for you on ITV Meridian News.

Councillor Andrew Pope standing up for you in the Daily Echo

Daily Echo back in April 2017

Councillor Pope on ITV Meridian outside Redbridge Towers

Back in April, Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope requested Southampton City Council to install sprinklers.

You can see the disgraceful responses from Labour Councillor for Housing Warwick Payne here. He dismissed residents concerns.

Do you agree that Warwick Payne should resign or be sacked?

After the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and thinking of the safety of Southampton residents, Councillor Pope has been standing up for you and putting pressure on Southampton City Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service by speaking on BBC Radio Solent yesterday and today, being quoted in the Daily Echo today and Andrew will be appearing on Wave 105 radio later today.

The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service policy is that sprinklers should be installed in high-rise blocks. Here is a section from the policy:

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Sprinkler Policy

The Council have tried to make out they have taken adequate steps on safety. Residents are not reassured. One resident, a former employee of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, contacted us this morning to say:

"I have just had a letter in last few minutes from Council, reference the fire in London and what the council are doing re ECU improvement works (cladding). They intend to do all blocks and assure us the materials they are using are naturally fire resistant, but there is they say following London fire, nothing at all to suggest the system is unsafe in any way. How they can say that before there has been a full investigation I don't Know!"

Another resident has contacted us to say:

"I think it's the same tripe they put out after every incident"

As Councillor Pope told BBC Radio Solent yesterday, residents are NOT reassured.

We work to expose failures and cover-ups. And Redbridge Towers is another one.

Why do we do this? We put pressure on those who have failed to protect you. Why?

Because Southampton Independents listen to you.

Southampton Independents work for you.

Southampton Independents stand up for you.

One of our supporters has created a petition to change the law to improve fire safety. She lost a friend in the Lakanal disaster in London in 2009. Why does the law need to be changed? Because it can't be left to councils like Southampton City Council, when they ignore residents like Warwick Payne did. Please sign and share this petition widely. If it doesn't appear below, please click this link.

Like our Facebook page "Southampton Independents" for updates, follow our Twitter feed @SotonIndies and keep coming back to our website.