The ongoing debate inspired by the decision by Wales to introduce a mandatory law to install sprinklers in all new residential homes was given a further twist by the launch of an e-petition on the Governments web site to "make (automatic) fire sprinklers compulsory in all new dwellings" in England and Northern Ireland.
As I understand it, anyone can post a petition on the site although the Government apparatchick's clearly vet each petition and remove any crazy or offensive content. In this case the petition was instigated by the Fire and Rescue Services – Staffordshire as I understand it, as they are currently imploring residents in Burton to sign up. The Coalition Governments aim is to engage with its electorate with the "promise" that any petition gathering more than 100000 signatories "could" be debated in the House of Commons.
Could is a big word in politics and given that at the last count there are 7460 petitions on the Governments site the chances seem pretty slim unless the size of the petition rises to a point where it cannot be ignored by in this case, the Department for Communities and Local Government. To date 497 have signed up, so still a long way to go.
Perhaps the petitions supporters should better mobilise the campaign. To start with there are the 35000 or so firefighters in the UK to draw on. No doubt they in turn have loved ones, mums, dads and grannies concerned about their offspring's safety so add a minimum of say 50,000 to the pot. Then you add all the companies, installers, consultants and contractors in the Redbook, including their employees who have some vested interest in expanding the use of automatic sprinklers and before you know it you are over the 100000 with ease.
Of course the other argument is that the whole e-petition idea is misleading as it only demonstrates the level of support for any one cause. Using Politics itself as an example in the latest Yougov poll taken just last week apparently of those people registered to vote 8 million think Ed Milliband is an effective opposition leader- very impressive you may think. Unfortunately the other 37 million don’t agree. It would seem to me that the e-petition should allow those opposed to a proposition to register their view to give a more balanced picture on the strength of support across
the Country.
To pledge your support for the petition visit http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/ and search for sprinklers.
As a footnote the Government is by no means ignoring fire safety as a seminar held at Westminster on Monday 19th September by the All Party Parliamentary Fire Safety & Rescue Group Seminar demonstrated. The purpose of the event was to debate, 'WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BRITAIN’S FIRE SAFETY UNDER LOCALISM AND THE BIG SOCIETY?' in the new world of light "touch government". Any reader who can shed light on what in the world this means please let us know.
