SERIOUS safety concerns have been raised for thousands of forces personnel living in 22 separate high rise tower blocks that have combustible cladding at the home of Britain’s nuclear weapons on the Clyde more than four years after the Grenfell Tower disaster.

The concerns have surfaced as specialist emergency workers at the base continue to take strike action after raising safety concerns over managers slashing firefighter numbers.

Workers with the Unite union working for Capita Business Services Ltd at HM Naval Base Clyde have raised ‘safety critical’ concerns over the effectiveness of contingency fire response cover as workers embark on further strike action this month.

The workers who provide onsite fire cover for both Faslane and Coulport naval bases, have been involved in an overtime ban since 16 September, and six-hour strike action on various days since 19 October.

Action was previously given the go-ahead following a ballot of workers after managers proceeded with cuts to eight posts from the specialist fire safety crew at HM Naval Base Clyde, a reduction in strength of 15 per cent, with the union describing it as an “an accident waiting to happen”.

The cuts were confirmed to staff earlier this year by Capita which won the contract in 2020 for fire response services from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and insists the cuts would actually improve safety.

The MoD has admitted that 755 buildings with sleeping accommodation in the UK are either fully or partially covered in ‘combustible’ cladding including high rises at the Clyde nuclear base.

Some 27 are high rises - defined as six floors or above - and remedial work has started on just one, with investigations under way on the extent of the changes needed for the other 26.

It has been confirmed that 22 of those 27 are on the Clyde and that they house 2440 people.

The Clyde base is home to Britain’s fleet of four Vanguard class submarines equipped with Trident nuclear missiles and five other Astute and Trafalgar class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

The first building to complete remediation will be at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth and will have replacement cladding, internal compartmentation and new fire doors with work scheduled to finish by March 2022.

The MoD has also admitted it first knew that flammable cladding was present on Force’s accommodation in July, 2019.

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Shadow defence secretary John Healey said that the the situation on the Clyde is “particularly concerning” as the base has cut firefighting teams.

A leaked fire safety risk management report conducted 18 months ago by Capita, and seen by the Herald made no mention of cladding on high rise buildings being a risk, nor does it recommend its removal.

Unite, which represents the specialist emergency workers at the Clyde said that the reduction in the numbers of firefighters would mean that firefighting crews would be unable to self-rescue in breathing apparatus as they had done before the cut.

This means the fire crews at the base would require assistance from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

But it is claimed the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) has no statutory right to enter the naval base and would be unable to support firefighting crews at the base in the event of a serious fire or a high-rise accommodation building.

Mr Healey said: “Four years on from the Grenfell tragedy, ministers have allowed a private contractor to cut the number fire crews at HMNB Clyde despite knowing that 22 of the 27 high rise buildings with flammable cladding, are on that base. This puts Force’s personnel at the base at greater risk.

“Force’s personnel put themselves in danger to protect our country, the least they deserve is the guarantee of a safe place to sleep at night when they’re home.

“Ministers should now restore fire crews at HMNB Clyde to their full strength and urgently conduct a new fire risk assessment that considers the increased risk to Force’s personnel being housed in accommodation with flammable cladding. Firm deadlines should also be set to remove all flammable cladding from all high-rise Force’s accommodation.”

The Herald: The Minister of Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin, at Cook Defence Systems, Stanhope, County Durham pictured with William Cook, Group Commercial Director Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Defence secretary Jeremy Quin said: “Investigative works are ongoing and remediation plans established for all buildings. Only one building is fully clad and removal of partial cladding may or may not be appropriate. Remediation plans already being enacted in respect of MHCLG [Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government] guidance include internal works to improve fire compartmentation.

“When remediation of the remaining buildings will complete is subject to ongoing work.

“Defence Fire and Rescue (DFR) have provided advice on how to operate the buildings to enable them to be safe to occupy.

"DFR, the Defence Fire Safety Regulator (DFSR) and Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) have agreed that occupation of the buildings can continue while the appropriate measures are implemented subject to maintaining and adhering to the conditions within the buildings Fire Risk Assessments. Fire Risk Assessments for these buildings are reassessed every year."

Capita won the contract in 2020 for fire response services from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

And the Unite union has been critical of the decision taken by Capita management in consultation with the Ministry of Defence to press ahead with cuts to fire crews alongside what they describe as a lack of promised new fire vehicles and updated equipment.

Capita has previously stated that they intend to mitigate safety risks due to the cuts through an investment in new technology to reduce fire risk".

The union representing around 45 fire safety crew workers has made repeated representations to Capita management which have raised "more concerns", in addition to those around staffing levels.

It was understood Capita were set to seek local authority support from nearby fire stations in an effort to 'back fill' the specialist safety response.

And Unite union say that during periods of industrial action, HMNB Clyde firefighters have raised concerns over the resilience crews brought in to cover that "may not have the competencies" to deal with unique safety critical assets, and "risks related to maritime fire-fighting and nuclear radiation".

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Unite's emergency staff at the nuclear base have said they are stepping up discontinuous strike action to include November 10, 16, 18 and 22.

Capita have denied there is any risk from providing cover for strikes saying: “We are disappointed by Unite’s further escalation of industrial action regarding MOD-approved changes that have been made to resourcing levels at Faslane and Coulport.

"We have a range of contingency options agreed with Defence Fire and Rescue and the Royal Navy’s Clyde leadership team which will ensure the delivery of fire service operations is maintained.  All resilience firefighters are appropriately trained and qualified for the tasks they undertake , with qualifications cross mapped and assessed against defence standards."

In a briefing about the escalation of strike action, Capita said the impact to personnel is" minimal".and that only four people have exited and all have been on voluntary terms. A source said the had introduced several new technical systems to enhance fire safety and operational delivery across all stations, including at HMNB Clyde.  These included a new Competency and Asset Management System, a Global Fire Station Log, as well as the Assure platform to manage Fire Risk Assessments.

Training on these systems has been provided to all relevant Capita Fire and Rescue colleagues, the company said.

They said HMNB Clyde is due to receive four new firefighting vehicles by the end of the year.

It said they are also in the final stages of agreeing the location of onsite breathing apparatus training facilities at Coulport, to improve firefighter safety and" minimise the need" for firefighters to travel for training.

Capita insists local authority fire and rescue service cover has always been provided at these sites and that arrangements have not changed.

And they stated that there is no additional responsibility being placed on the SFRS as onsite fire and rescue provision is not being removed.

The company said it "fully engaged in meaningful consultation" with colleagues and Unite on the proposed changes, including hosting eight individual station briefings for personnel.

"Colleagues were involved in the review process, the confirmatory exercises and in individual briefing sessions," Capita said.

A Capita spokesperson said: “Capita Fire and Rescue is delivering a programme of fire risks assessments throughout HMNB Clyde. The accommodation blocks will be assessed by trained Capita Fire and Rescue teams by the end of the year.

“We have a range of contingency options agreed with Defence Fire and Rescue and the Royal Navy’s Clyde leadership team to mitigate the impact of Unite’s ongoing industrial action. These ensure the delivery of our fire service operations is maintained.  All resilience firefighters are appropriately trained and qualified for the tasks they undertake, with qualifications cross mapped and assessed against defence standards.”