AN ex-Wiltshire Fire Chief has said that Selwood Housing can 'thank their lucky stars' that it reversed its decision to remove fire sprinklers from houses in Trowbridge in light of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The housing association came under heavy fire in February, when it said that fire safety sprinklers would be removed from more than 200 homes in Studley Green because they were too expensive to maintain and that there was a 'low-level risk of legionella'.

After pressure from local residents and councillors, as well as having discussions with the Residential Sprinkler Association and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Selwood backed down on their plans.

A week on from the Grenfell Tower fire, that has killed 79 people so far, John Craig, who was the county's fire chief from 1986-2000, has said Selwood were right to change its minds and that sprinklers should be installed in tower blocks, schools and homes as soon as possible.

"Selwood can thank their lucky stars that it eventually saw reason and decided against removing the sprinklers from Studley Green," he said.

"Their concerns about it being cost effective did not hold any weight in my opinion. People's lives are at stake. Safety has to come ahead of cost. The use of sprinklers is overwhelmingly positive.

"There is absolutely no question in my mind that if Grenfell Tower had sprinkler protection, the original fire would have been dealt with and then it would have been extinguished.

"We would not have even heard about the issue of cladding had sprinklers been there. It is horrific that a tragedy like this has to happen for positive change to be made. I want to see sprinklers being used all across the country in tower blocks, schools, businesses, homes, wherever."

Since the sprinklers were installed in 2001, in what was a pioneering nationwide initiative championed by former BBC Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross, people living on the estate say they have prevented three house fires and saved two lives.

John Alford, 81, a Studley Green resident of 59 years who campaigned for the sprinklers to be kept, said: "I am very happy that the pressure put on Selwood Housing, ended up bringing about this positive change.

"I was chairman of the board of Selwood Housing for five years up until 2011. This would not have happened if I was there. The cost of these sprinklers should mean nothing when people's lives are at stake."