HOUSING bosses are set give Southend tower blocks an overhaul after it was discovered flammable foam had been used in the building process.

In a letter sent to campaigners, the office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner confirmed South Essex Homes would be servicing fire doors and have refitted foam around the doors.

The housing company manages various high rise tower blocks in the town, and residents have been campaigning for months for fire safety to be improved in their flats.

In the letter sent to Southend fire safety campaigner Colin Nickless, the commissioner’s office said: “SEH have confirmed they have a maintenance programme to service fire doors by fully trained in-house staff and these staff undertake any door adjustments required so they meet the required specification.

“They have acknowledged that some gaps under particular doors need reducing and they have confirmed that a contractor has been appointed to rectify this issue.

“Foam used in the fitment of some doors was identified as not being fire retardant. These have been refitted using the correct foam by Gerda, the door manufacturer. Additionally, the door with the missing letterbox has been completely replaced.

“Penetrations through compartment walls are fire-stopped with appropriate materials. SEH advised that staff are constantly inspecting the premises to check for additional penetrations made for new cables and services to ensure these are also adequately fire-stopped.

“The exit signs in the photographs appeared to have been removed or become unglued, in future SEH will use security screws to permanently affix these signs.”

The letter also added the high-rise residential premises are included in the Fire Safety Activity Programme of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and are checked annually.

Mr Nickless said SEH were “in denial” there was a major issue.

He said: “The use of this foam, which creates toxic smoke which can kill in seconds, is a danger to residents but also a danger to firefighters. If you cannot guarantee the integrity of the compartments you cannot possibly operate a Stay Put or “stay safe” policy, asking residents to remain in their homes in the event of fire.

“I checked one building Tuesday morning and the foam was still present.

“The fumes from regular expanding foam like that is a poisonous product of combustion used to surround doors that form part of a compartment barrier that’s supposed to stop the spread of poisonous products of combustion. It does only not prevent the spread of these killer gases, its producing them.”

The issue of fire safety in Southend tower blocks has been present for several years.

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

They may have survived if she had known her flat had a fire door but fire safety notices were missing. Strips around fire doors, which are meant to expand to seal the door in the event of a fire making them effective, were also missing.

The Echo reported in January that the Balmoral Residents’ Association had lodged a complaint via a letter against South Essex Homes highlighting a catalogue of issues in three tower blocks on the estate in Westcliff.

At the time, SEH said fire safety was “of the highest priority”.