Enfield Council is to start work in January on installing the first two sprinkler systems in its high rise residential tower blocks.

In the early months of next year all 54 of the Council managed tower blocks will have sprinklers installed.

Enfield Council will pay for the work but is lobbying the government to fund the scheme introduced following the Grenfell Tower disaster in June.

The scheme is intended to speed up the way in which fires are dealt in high rise blocks, and will cost in the region of £8 million or £3000 per property.

In the Kensington and Chelsea Grenfell Tower fire 71 people lost their lives.

Cllr Ahmet Oykener, Enfield Council’s cabinet member for housing and housing regeneration, said: “We take the safety of all of our residents extremely seriously and although our high rise blocks are extremely safe, we think it is sensible and proportionate to install sprinkler systems in them to further reduce the likelihood of a serious fire breakout.

“The Grenfell Tower fire shocked the nation and it would be a complete dereliction of duty for us to do nothing in the aftermath of that terrible tragedy.

“We have already reviewed fire safety in every single one of our high-rise blocks and even though they are fully compliant with existing fire regulations we feel it is right and proper to install sprinkler systems to enable more effective fire-fighting in these blocks and to reassure residents that we take their safety extremely seriously.

“We’re building strong communities and we are demonstrating to residents that we’re go their backs and we’ll do what needs to be done to keep them safe.”