LOCAL Government Association tell residents in high-rise buildings that the ‘results should be back quickly’ on fire safety tests of cladding.

This comes after the government announced that 60 high-rise buildings in 25 local authorities across the country have now failed fire cladding safety tests after the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid yesterday revealed all of the buildings that have so far submitted cladding samples have failed combustibility tests.

Representing 370 councils across England and Wales including Gloucestershire County Council and Stroud District Council, the Local Government Association spokesman said: "This is clearly an unsettling time for communities whose cladding samples have already come back as combustible or who are awaiting test results.

“We have been assured that tests on cladding samples are being processed so results should be back quickly.

"Councils are contacting residents living in tower blocks whose cladding has failed tests and working with fire services to establish what action needs to be taken.

“Councils are also supporting social and other landlords in their area to help them in their work to ensure the safety of their residents when cladding on their buildings fail tests.” 

However if cladding fails the test the LGA has said that residents won’t necessarily have to leave their homes, but don’t rule it out completely saying: “Where cladding fails the test, this will not necessarily mean moving residents from tower blocks.

“Working with fire service experts to assess risks, a number of councils have already introduced other fire safety measures in buildings, such as 24-hour a day warden patrols, when advice from the fire service is clear that this will mitigate against fire risks ahead of the removal of cladding.

"For those areas still waiting for results of tests on aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding, our advice to them is to prepare contingency plans so they can take any measures needed quickly.

"Anyone living in a high-rise building can be reassured that their council will act on any advice from the fire service to ensure their safety.        

“The LGA has a team of staff working closely with councils and the Department for Communities and Local Government around-the-clock to help local authorities as they continue to support communities affected during this difficult time.

“We also continue to press the Government to ensure councils have the funding they need to support residents and carry out any new safety measures.”