Express & Star

Express & Star comment: No price on keeping the public safe

The Grenfell Tower tragedy will live long in our memories as one of the darkest days in this country's recent history.

Published
The Grenfell Tower tragedy brought fire safety sharply into focus

There are still numerous questions that need to be answered about the circumstances behind the fire and why it caused such a huge loss of life.

It is hoped that they will be sufficiently addressed as part of the ongoing inquiry, which must be as thorough and transparent as possible.

In the meantime, measures must be put in place to ensure that such a disaster never happens again.

One of the main issues to arise from the tragedy concerns the safety mechanisms in place in the thousands of high-rise blocks across the country.

It quickly became clear that many of these buildings were not up to the required standard.

The lack of sprinklers is a key issue that must be addressed.

With that in mind, it is positive news that Wolverhampton's blocks are to be fitted with sprinklers in a bid to safeguard tenants.

City council bosses say they want to take action rather than waiting for guidance from the Government – and they are quite right to do so.

In this instance the authority is to be commended for being pro-active.

The fact that ministers are yet to outline any official guidance to local authorities is worrying, and should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

This is not an issue that can be dwelt on for too long.

There are those who will question the cost of the city council's plan.

At around £20 million over five years, the scheme is not cheap.

It almost certainly means that money will have to be diverted from other town hall budgets.

Somewhere along the line, there are people who will miss out as a result.

At a time when the council's budget is already stretched to breaking point, any additional expenditure has to be carefully examined and considered.

But above everything else, the Grenfell Tower tragedy has brought one thing sharply into focus.

You can't put a price on the safety of the public.