Concerns over cladding at three Premier Inn hotels after Grenfell Tower disaster – including one opened by Theresa May
The chain was 'extremely concerned' it did not appear to meet fire safety standards for high-rise buildings
PREMIER Inn has said it is "extremely concerned" about the cladding used at three of its hotels - including one opened by Prime Minister Theresa May.
The chain said the coverings did not appear to meet current fire safety standards for high-rise buildings, but said it is not the same as that used on Grenfell Tower.
One of the affected hotels is thought to be in Theresa May’s constituency of Maidenhead in Berkshire.
The then Home Secretary officially opened the hotel in her Maidenhead constituency in November 2015.
The others are believed to be in Brentford, West London, and Tottenham, in the north of the capital, BBC’s Newsnight reported.
The announcement was made as police confirmed the Grenfell Tower inferno was started by a faulty Hotpoint fridge freezer and revealed the cladding and insulation on the building had failed all safety tests.
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Officers investigating the fire at the 24-storey tower, which has left at least 79 people dead, will consider bringing manslaughter charges.
Premier Inn conducted tests after the disaster last week. Independent experts said guests were not in danger due to their evacuation plans and “robust” safety measures.
A spokeswoman for the company said: "The safety and security of our guests and team members is always our number one priority.
"Although we have concerns that the fire retardant cladding used may not adhere to recognised government guidance on compliance with the building regulations for use in high rise buildings, an independent fire expert has assured us that these hotels are safe and that they are entirely satisfied that there are robust fire safety measures and evacuation procedures in place to protect our guests and team members."
A spokesman for the chain has also said it was developers’ responsibility to check the materials used.
Thousands of people living in tower blocks across the country are facing a nervous wait to discover if their homes are safe.
Residents living in London tower blocks covered in cladding similar to that on Grenfell Tower raged at council officials last night telling them “I’m frightened, I’m petrified”.
Tempers flared at an emergency meeting called by Camden Council, which has already started to remove cladding from five 23-storey towers on the Chalcots estate.
Terrified resident Angela told top council officers said: “You can’t reassure me because I’m on the 17th floor.
“You need to do more and you need to do it now.
“I’m frightened, I’m petrified.”
Cladding on hundreds of buildings in the UK is being tested – with work already started to remove coatings from blocks in North London and Manchester.
Families living inside the tower blocks in Camden yesterday told Sun Online they are struggling to sleep in fear of another deadly blaze.
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