Councillor Pushes Life-Saving Action on Carbon Monoxide (Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats)

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats <info@oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk>

Councillor Pushes Life-Saving Action on Carbon Monoxide

May 29, 2007 4:11 PM

An Oxfordshire County Councillor succeeded in getting the County Council to provide information and advice that might save lives. Liberal Democrat Councillor Lesley Legge used her position as a member of the County's Community Safety Scrutiny Committee to ask what advice the Council provided to help people avoid carbon monoxide poisoning in their homes. Every year between 30 and 50 people in the UK die due to gas appliances and flues that have not been properly fitted or maintained.

In response to Lesley's question last year the County Council first wrote a report on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and then drew up an action plan. This included:

• Providing up to date, clearly written advice on its website for members of the public

• Writing to the Oxfordshire Housing Associations to recommend fitting carbon monoxide alarms in new builds and their homes for vulnerable people

• Discussing the issue with District Council planning departments to highlight the advisability of considering fitting alarms in housing as part of the building control process

• Investigating all avenues for distributing this advice more widely, for example via local radio bulletins, Age Concern, senior citizen groups and student accommodation offices.

Lesley said, "'It is very sad that deaths still occur from carbon monoxide poisoning when they can be prevented so easily if appliances are installed properly, maintained regularly and if alarms are fitted. I asked through Community Safety how the County Council could help spread the word to members of the public, and especially to more vulnerable groups within our community, and I am delighted with the positive response and actions by Fire and Trading Standards officers."