Wandsworth residents gathered at the town hall to object the council’s approach to install of sprinklers in council blocks across the borough.

Almost 70 protesters gathered on September 13. This follows on from 100 residents attending a public meeting to discuss the decision to ask leaseholder to pay almost £4,000 to have prinklers installed in block 10 or more stories tall.

There are 99 blocks, which are 10 stories or more in the borough. These home around 6,000 residents. Roughly 2,300 of these are leaseholders. The majority of these blocks are in Putney and Battersea, with two in Tooting.

Cllr Claire Gilbert of Roehampton said: “During the meeting there was a lot of commentary about the decision, there was also a lot of heckling. It was an illustration of how people feel about the issue.

SEE MORE: Concerns over installation of sprinklers in Wandsworth high rises 'without meaningful consultation'​

“The three main issues people have is: If they’re needed, who will pay and what costs will incur following their installation. It is important not to have a knee jerk reaction and think the issue through with proper consultation.”

Cllr Maurice McCloud said: “It was totally understandable, even commendable, that the council would want to act quickly to reassure worried residents, but this should have been pursued with a public campaign of information. If the Council are so sure that installing sprinklers, and charging leaseholders, is the right way forward, it should trust residents and convince them.

“They got to the stage of pushing it through without asking residents who have a lot of questions about the installation and potential dangers. Residents are extremely concerned by this issue, shown by almost 500 people saying they are interested in attending the tribunal next month.

“We are neither for nor against sprinklers. We are for resident engagement and democracy. There is a massive disregard for residents, it is a very paternalistic view that the borough has. It seems there is an element of snobbery toward council tenants, the only conversation they’ve had really is a tribunal to see if they can charge lease holders.

“If sprinklers are essential, the council should convince residents (they care more about their safety than the council do) and pick up the tab.”

SEE MORE: Wandsworth residents concerned over council plans to retrofit sprinklers in tower blocks​

Cllr Kim Caddy said in response: “In the immediate aftermath of the terrible events at Grenfell we announced proposals to install sprinklers in all our tower blocks of ten floors or above. This would bring these high-rise properties up to the same safety standard as all newly-built blocks of a similar height where sprinklers have been mandatory since 2007.

“Our approach is based on the very clear and unambiguous advice of the London Fire Brigade and its Commissioner, the Royal Institute of British Architects and most recently a cross-party select committee group of MPs who examined this issue in great detail.

“Some people think questions around fire safety should be left up to a ballot, with some blocks agreeing to have sprinklers fitted but others choosing to reject them. Such a two-tier safety approach would represent a complete abdication of our responsibility as a landlord and freeholder and could, heaven forbid, risk further tragedy.

“We know that some leaseholders who’ve bought their homes are unhappy with our proposals partly on the grounds of cost. This is why we have proactively sought a ruling from the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal so that the legal position about whether or not they need to make a financial contribution is clarified.

“This is an important issue for them and one we have some sympathy for, which is why we have already said that if they are required to make any contribution at all, this would be spread over a number of years and would be on an interest free basis.”

The Leasehold Valuation Tribunal takes place at 10am on October 16 at the Wandsworth Civic Centre.