NEW fire escapes that could help save dozens of lives have been approved for blocks of flats in Romsey.

Residents living in flats off Broadwater Road and Banning Street will finally be given a second route to flee a fire with new steel staircases.

The staircases will be erected on the side of each block to aid those living on the upper levels.

This comes after a risk assessment in March 2020 revealed fire safety measures needed to be beefed up in the Mount Pleasant, Tadburn Green, Berthon House, Ashley House and St Mary's blocks, according to the housing company, Aster Group.

Fire experts stressed to Aster if a blaze erupted it could block the external walkway residents use to access the main staircase at the far end of each block, trapping them in an emergency.

Now residents should be able to sleep a little easier after the plans were unanimously approved at Test Valley Borough Council's (TVBC) Southern Area Planning Committee on Tuesday.

Liberal Democrat Alan Dowden stressed London's Grenfell Tower fire, which saw 72 people die after the 24-storey block of flats was engulfed in flames, has focused people's minds on residents' safety.

He said: "No building would be built today without an additional fire escape, that's obvious, but the London fire has obviously concentrated the minds of everybody.

"I am just pleased now those people must feel a little safer in there once we get these staircases built."

Before the plans were approved the applicant, Aster Group, said nightly patrols around the flats would continue in a bid to keep residents safe "until a permanent solution is in place".

A spokesperson stressed: "Due to the wider, national issue surrounding the safety of blocks of flats, there are some delays which is having a knock-on effect on other safety works, such as the steel staircases now required.

"Customer safety is our priority and we’re working as quickly as possible to provide a resolution. We know that this has taken longer than expected as we’ve worked to find the best solution, and we understand that this may be causing some concern.

"In the meantime, we’d encourage our customers to contact us if they’re concerned or if they have any questions about the work that needs to take place."

The blocks of flats were built in the 1960s by the former "Romsey Borough Council", according to a planning document on TVBC's website.