I was dismayed to hear in the early hours of this morning that once again there was a fire blazing in Camberwell and that residents were being evacuated from their homes. I have, once again, conveyed my thanks to the local fire brigade and also the police, council officers and volunteers who worked together to help the residents who had to be rushed out of their homes. Thankfully there were no injuries but this is the third serious fire in Camberwell within the last year and I am greatly concerned about it.

As well as seeking reports from the fire service and council officers I have contacted the Secretary of State for Local Government to ask for

·        An audit of all the construction sites in the London Borough of Southwark

·        An identification of similar sites (the Carisbrooke Gardens fire and the Camberwell Station Road fire both started in the same sort of site) and

·        A reassurance that they will all be made safe if they are not already complying with the highest standards.

These construction sites for much needed new homes are close to other residential blocks. People living close to such construction sites need a reassurance that all these sites will be made safe if they are not already and that urgent steps are taken to ensure that building sites in Southwark are not a fire risk.