Campaigners protesting against the closure of rooftop fire escapes for their flats say they are prepared to use sledgehammers to smash their way to safety.

Tenants and leaseholders from 32 blocks of flats on the Holly Lodge Estate in Highgate are protesting after routes they say have enabled residents to cross to other blocks for 100 years were locked off.

And they have demanded to know if a report criticising Camden Council's fire safety failings was behind the move.

At an angry meeting on September 21, residents were told the roof access would be locked as it was no longer deemed safe and too costly to bring up to modern standards.

Many of the four and five-storey blocks in Oakeshott, Makepeace, and Langbourne avenues are linked by fire escapes, which residents feel are a better option than waiting in their flats for the fire brigade.

After two years of negotiations and with the help of Highgate councillors Anna Wright, Camron Aref-Adib, and Green Party's Sian Berry, the Holly Lodge Residents Association (HLRA) reached an informal compromise with Camden Council in June 2020 to allow roof access in the event of a blaze, with modifications such as improved lighting.

Ham & High: David George, Camden borough fire commander with Anna Parkinson of Holly Lodge Residents Association and Gavin Haynes, director of property management at Camden CouncilDavid George, Camden borough fire commander with Anna Parkinson of Holly Lodge Residents Association and Gavin Haynes, director of property management at Camden Council (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

But the council this summer U-turned on the decision.

In the meeting at Holly Lodge Community Centre in Makepeace Avenue, residents told London Fire Brigade borough commander for Camden David George and Camden Council officers that it would be preferable to risk "a couple of broken bones" going on the roof than burning to death.

Former HLRA chair Grace Livingstone cited the Hackett report following the Grenfell fire disaster, claiming residents "know what the reality is".

She said there were often objects in corridors and reports that new fire alarms were "faulty" and claimed "cut and paste" fire reports did not look at of the specifics of each block.

"The best laid plans don't always go to plan," she said. "In those circumstances we want emergency access, we don't want a situation where people in the upper floors can't get out of our blocks. We're asking you, please listen to residents."

One mum-of-two, a trained fire marshall, said she had seen videos of how a room could go up in flames in five minutes.

She said that if the fire escapes were open, she could climb one floor to the roof with her two children and dog, walk across and be "out of it".

Gilly Burke, who has lived on the estate for 40 years, said it was "ludicrous" that the council "won't invest in having two viable fire exits".

Ham & High: Josh Cedar, Holly Lodge RA chair, Anna Parkinson, LFB chief David George and Camden officers Gavin Haynes, Steve Boulton ad Dominic JohnsonJosh Cedar, Holly Lodge RA chair, Anna Parkinson, LFB chief David George and Camden officers Gavin Haynes, Steve Boulton ad Dominic Johnson (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

She added: "I've bought a sledgehammer to cut the roof, I know three other people who have also bought sledgehammers and others have bought rope ladders". 

She said waiting inside the flats for the fire brigade "went against all common sense".

Borough commander Mr George said keeping the fire escapes open would "introduce ambiguity to the rescue" and that he "can't endorse an unsafe practice".

He tried to reassure residents of safety protocols while being interrupted by agitated residents.

"You might be able to get up to the roof but others can't," he said. "What I'm here to tell you, what I'm asking you, is to follow the evacuation strategy for your block."

In July the Regulator of Social Housing said thousands of people had been left at risk after Camden Council failed to address fire safety failings in tenants' homes, leading the council to tighten up its fire scrutiny.

Ham & High: Cllr Anna Wright at a Holly Lodge Estate meeting with Camden's fire chiefs, who for two years has supported residents desire for emergency fire access to block roofsCllr Anna Wright at a Holly Lodge Estate meeting with Camden's fire chiefs, who for two years has supported residents desire for emergency fire access to block roofs (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Cllr Wright said: "There was an agreement to have an emergency over-ride," she said. "If this is about the government regulation report to Camden, say it."

Concerns about the existing fire escapes included the need for proper lighting and gurneys, and that some blocks had spiral staircases.

Steve Boulton, Camden's fire safety manager, said the council was liable to legal action by LFB and the regulator. "They said it's not an exit," he added.

After residents claimed some disabled people would find it easier to access the roof than get down the stairs in a fire, he said anyone needing assistance should tell the council so their details could be shared with the fire brigade.

Ham & High: Dominic Johnson, Camden's head of building and resident safety at a heated meeting about the Holly Lodge Estate in HighgateDominic Johnson, Camden's head of building and resident safety at a heated meeting about the Holly Lodge Estate in Highgate (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Dominic Johnson, head of building & resident safety, said to allow roof access would mean making the area "safe and up to standard" and the cost was "not proportionate to the risk".

After the meeting, residents association chair Josh Cedar vowed not to give up. He said: "They listened but they also ignored our position.

"There are a lot of concerns from residents, so we will organise a deputation and take it to the council, or higher."