Expensive fire patrols in a Basingstoke apartment block that failed fire safety checks are set to come to an within weeks.

A new fire alarm system is currently being installed at Crown Heights, which is wrapped in flammable material with no fire breaks, and is expected to have been completed before Easter.

It will mean a costly waking watch - a 24/7 patrol by fire wardens expected to cost around £6,700 per week - will be able to come to an end within the next few weeks.

Meanwhile at Victory Hill, a fire alarm is already being installed and should mean the waking watch there can be removed by the end of April.

The information was revealed by the councillor with responsibility for homes at a meeting on Thursday.

Cllr Tristan Robinson was speaking as part of a debate on the "disgraceful saga" after The Gazette revealed that seven blocks had failed fire safety checks.

He welcomed a motion that would see the council's housing committee review the situation, and thanked The Gazette for revealing to the public the full picture of the town's cladding crisis, labelling it "incredibly important".

Cllr Robinson said: "The most important thing is for residents to be reassured that Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed that buildings are safe with the mitigation in place as agreed.

"The council’s housing team are on hand to give specialist support and advice to any residents who are concerned. We would certainly encourage them to get in contact with the team."

What is the situation at Crown Heights?

Crown Heights failed fire safety checks in December 2020 after an intrusive survey revealed that it was covered in a flammable render material, with no fire breaks, and was insulated by the flammable material expanded polystyrene.

The block, which contains 288 apartments, is currently undergoing works to fit a new fire alarm. Once that is complete, the costly waking watch can be removed.

Cllr Robinson confirmed in the meeting that the fire alarm installation should be complete before Easter.

He added: "The wider remediation will then progress thereafter, and FirstPort [the management company] have secured government funding of approximately £5.5 million to replace the external render system."

However, no date has been set for when this will begin.

What is the situation at Victory Hill?

Three blocks of flats at the Victory Hill development, on Winterthur Way, were identified as having issues.

The top two floors, which contain penthouses, of the Cherry, Holly and Elm blocks are wrapped in high-pressure laminate, a material 115 times more flammable than alternatives.

As with Crown Heights, the new alarm is currently being installed, which when complete will see the removal of the waking watch.

Cllr Robinson said this would happen by the end of April.

He added: "The cost for alarm is £56,000 and will be met by the Waking Watch fund set up by central government.

"The wider remediation on that block to remove the cladding on the small number of penthouses is estimated to start in May of this year and will take 9-12 months to complete."

It is currently unknown how the cost will be met, or what the cost will be, but leaseholders could be set to pay for it.

What about the other high-rise apartment blocks in Basingstoke?

Other than the four blocks at Crown Heights and the three identified at Victory Hill, there are a number of other residential buildings taller than six storeys in Basingstoke, although none are known to have failed fire safety checks.

Skyline Plaza, Churchill Plaza and Pemberley Place have all obtained EWS1 certificates, meaning residents can sell their flats and buyers can obtain mortgages, whilst Oakridge Towers does not need an EWS1 form.