CIVIC chiefs are calling for sprinklers to be fitted to high-rise flats in Poole, following the devastating Grenfell Tower.

Members of Borough of Poole’s (BOP) people overview and scrutiny committee will be given a presentation from firefighters and Poole Housing Partnership - which manages the two Sterte tower blocks on behalf of the council - next Monday.

But Cllr Phil Eades wants PHP to confirm, before this meeting, what the projected costs of retro-fitting sprinklers at Sterte would be.

He’s also seeking clarification on whether or not Dorset Fire & Rescue Service ever advised BOP to fit sprinklers, and, if they did, why was a decision taken to not do this.

On the Sterte blocks, Cllr Eades also asks: “Does the cladding pass all safety standards? Was a more expensive solution discarded? Are we certain such a scene as Grenfell could not happen at Sterte?”

Meanwhile, Cllr Andy Hadley said: “I have had some concerns and parallels around the cladding at Sterte raised with me.”

The councillor said he’d be asking borough housing bosses: “How much would it cost to install sprinklers and how soon can it be commenced?”

Sterte Court’s blocks had new cladding in a £7million refurbishment in 2014. Cladding has been cited as a possible reason the fire spread so quickly in West London.

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster - which has claimed at least 79 lives - the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has called for local authorities and other social housing providers to “identify whether panels used in new build or refurbishment are a particular type of cladding made of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM).”

The DCLG has stressed ACM cladding is not itself dangerous, but it is important the right type is used. Communities Secretary

Sajid Javid said: “We have asked local authorities and all providers of social housing to identify whether any buildings in their area contain cladding made of aluminium composite material.

“We are putting in place a rigorous, government funded testing process for any ACM cladding identified.”