THE deputy leader has expressed his concern for the welfare of residents of Terminus House affected by the fire at the converted office block on Saturday evening.

Councillor David Carter, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Housing, said:

“Any fire in a tower block in the town is concerning and this must have been a frightening experience for all those affected. We are in contact with both Caridon and the fire service to find out what happened, and we are seeking urgent reassurances that appropriate fire safety measures and evacuation procedures are and were in place. 

“Harlow Council has never placed any households in Terminus House and this continues to be the case. However, we were made aware of the fire and our housing team was on standby to assist households with emergency accommodation and we were ready to open a rest centre. We remained in contact with the fire service, and we were ready to provide help. In the end our help was not required as all residents were able to return to their homes after the smoke cleared. 

“I would like to thank the emergency services for their quick response to the situation and the council staff who were on standby ready to assist.”