Tenants and residents living in high-rise flats in Dudley have been reassured their safety is paramount following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower block in London.

Seventeen people are confirmed to have died in the devastating blaze in the capital, with several others still unaccounted for. It has prompted calls for reassurance about the safety of tower blocks across the rest of the country, including in Dudley.

Council chiefs in the borough have outlined a number of strong and robust policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety of tenants and residents.

Valid fire risk assessments are in place for all high rise flats and are reviewed regularly. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are fitted in all individual flats, while daily inspections of blocks are carried out by council staff.

No council high-rise block has cladding or external wall insulation – and fire risk is always considered when buying products such as paint or decorative items.

Council bosses also met this week to review the authority’s existing policies regarding fire safety to ensure they were as robust as they could be. Advice has been sought from West Midlands Fire & Rescue Service. Councillor Les Jones, cabinet member for housing, said:

“Our thoughts are very much with the families affected by this devastating fire in London.

“We have always worked very closely with Dudley Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations (DFTRA) and have spoken to them following the fire in London to confirm policies and procedures already in place which aim to minimise risks as far as is reasonably possible in our multi-storey blocks.

“Following the tragic incident in London we are revisiting these policies and procedures to ensure that they remain fit for purpose, as well as seeking updated advice as appropriate from fire and rescue services.

“I would like to reassure everyone that we will continue to do everything we can to keep people safe.”