Residents in tower blocks where mum-to-be died lodge complaint over lack of fire safety precautions

Residents are furious action has not been taken to improve the “high risk” blocks despite almost three years of campaigning.

The Balmoral Residents’ Association has now lodged a complaint via a letter against South Essex Homes highlighting a catalogue of issues in three tower blocks on the estate in Westcliff.

Mum-to-be Khabi Abrey, 30, who was eight months pregnant, died in an arson attack in Grampian flats, Balmoral Road in 2016.

They may have survived if she had known her flat had a fire door but fire safety notices were, and still are, missing.

Strips around fire doors, which are meant to expand to seal the door in the event of a fire making them effective, are also still missing.

Tragic - Mum-to-be Khabi Abrey, 30, who was eight months pregnant

Chairman Terry Brown said: “Khabi’s body was found by the lifts and there were no fire safety signs. It was a nightmare. A tragedy.

“We don’t want something like this to happen again. This is not something that would cost thousands of pounds. These are just basic requirements. South Essex Homes just pays lip service to the problems.

“They say they will do this and that but nothing ever happens.”

Fire safety assessments carried out by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service on Grampian, Brecon and Blackdown flats in May last year branded the flats “high risk”.

Southend fire safety campaigner Colin Nickless said: “There is a problem with gaps round fire doors in Balmoral but the problems are even worse in other tower blocks. I’ve seen pipes going through walls and cables going through air vents which are not protected.

“Last week I saw a flat with a missing letterbox.

“Khabi Abrey died because of an arsonist.

“There’s not much you can do if someone decides to commit arson but at least you can make sure all the fire safety precautions are in place so a building is best placed to withstand that and I don’t think that is happening.”

South Essex Homes said fire safety was “of the highest priority”.

A spokeswoman said: “Notwithstanding the focus which the issue receives from our teams on a daily basis, there can never be any room for complacency.

“If any resident expresses a concern over fire safety risks, it is important their concerns are listened to and responded to as effectively as possible.

“It is important in order to provide reassurance that we are ensuring fire safety measures are being maintained at the most effective level possible.

"We have already responded to this letter to reassure tenants that we share their desire to maintain the highest level of fire safety at all times, and have promised to write again very soon to specifically address the points raised in the letter.”