Customer safety is at the top of the agenda for Halton Housing Trust as it joins forces with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service in a new fire safety partnership.
The partnership will bring the two agencies closer together so they can plan a programme of work to make Trust customers safer in their homes.
As part of the £85 million the Trust has pledged to spend on repairs, modernisations and improvements by 2010, every home will be fitted with hard wired smoke alarms.
The fire safety partnership means existing Trust customers can now be referred for a Home Safety Assessment (HSA) and all new customers will be offered a HSA when they sign their new tenancy agreement.
A Home Safety Assessment includes fitting an additional smoke alarm (if required), deaf alarm fitting (if required) and a room by room fire risk assessment by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s local firefighters.
Paul Mullins, Deputy Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: “Halton Housing Trust is pleased to be entering a partnership with Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service which will benefit the whole community within Halton. Both organisations have been developing services to improve the quality of life for local people and now, by joining forces, their combined efforts will be more effective.
“So many injuries to people can be avoided by taking simple precautions and this initiative will go a long way to prevent these and the damage caused to property. The Trust sees this as the start of a long term arrangement that will lead to a strong partnership for safer homes in Halton.”
Cllr Rob Polhill, Deputy Leader Halton Borough Council and Vice Chair of Cheshire Fire Authority, agreed: ‘’This partnership will help to make Halton Housing Trust customers safer in their homes and is part of our long term commitment to home safety improvements.’’
In closing, Alan Briggs, Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service’s Community Safety Officer for Halton and Chair of the Halton Safer Homes Group, said ‘’It is extremely pleasing to note Halton Housing Trust’s commitment to working with us to improve home safety for their customers. This partnership will also benefit from the multi-agency links offered by the Halton Safer Homes Group.’’