Raise a Fiery Question

*Breaking News*

Right …

I’m going to have to take this, slowly and carefully, as I’m not sure I’ve completely understood this, correctly.

But I’m going to do the best I can, here, so bare with me.

I think — think — we have a problem, here.

A little earlier today, I was speaking to a representative from Essex County Fire Services.

Who’s having trouble …

Seemingly.

I emailed them, a few days ago, and asked if any sort of fire safety check had been done in the area: either on the flats, or the streets themselves.

Now, if I’ve understood what he told me correctly, there’s a lot of issues.

For starters, the buildings in the Rollason Way weren’t checked by them: they were checked by what he called the Building Control people. The relevant department from the Essex County Fire Services only took over that job roughly three years ago. About the time that Brunel House was finished.

Now, according to him, all the buildings were certified as meeting the required standard, whoever they were checked by.

~≈†≈~

Hmmmm …

Okaaaay …

Which sounds like it makes … sense …

~≈†≈~

He also told me was that, with the current set of regulations in place, Essex County Fire Services won’t be doing a check on the planned new buildings in Saint James Road — happily reported on, by the Brentwood Weekly News, this week* — until they’re actually built.

One last thing he said was that both the Fire Service, AND the head of the Brentwood Fire Station, were both concerned about the congestion situation, on Rollason Way, and Saint James Road.

And that, while there was little they could do directly — they can’t, as the spokesman said, move privately owned cars that are blocking their way — they are in consultation with the local police: both the police, local fire station, and Ambulance services in the area have ALL said exactly how difficult they find it to get to, ’round, and parked in this area.

It gets more sensible by the minute, doesn’t … ?

~≈†≈~

Now, I’m assuming that, whenever you’re reading this post, you’ve noticed I’ve used the word ‘sensible’, a lot, haven’t you … ?

I’m being heavily ironic, there …

Apart from that last time …

But I think that sort of makes my point, here.

That point is simple.

I’m sat here in my front room, which looks out directly onto Rollason Way

I see how hard it is for cars and lorries to get up and down here, with the amount of cars parked on the street.

I’ve also seen how hard it is for ambulances and police cars to get up and down the street.

Getting a fire engine, here … ?

Actually, getting a fire engine into Saint James Road?

With all the current congestion is no easy job.

And that’s with things, as they stand.

I’m seriously rather alarmed, as things stand, what could happen if a fire breaks out down my street: getting an engine down here will be extremely difficult.

If the proposed plans go through … ?

Well …

I’d hate to writing an “I told you so” post.

Or be a victim of the fire that couldn’t be put out, because the fire engine couldn’t get here.