Travelling into London at night on the route of the Westway, it is impossible to ignore the unlit black hulk: a sobering reminder of last year’s Grenfell fire.

Sadly we can’t turn back the clock. Manifold failures in both central and local government cost lives, and people are rightly angry. We owe it to the victims and survivors to ensure that the issue of fire safety is taken far more seriously in future years. A public inquiry is underway, as is a full review of building and fire safety regulations. It is vital that those inquiries take evidence from residents who were ignored for far too long.

While no one will forget the Grenfell fire, it is regrettable that few people remember that less than a year earlier, and only a short distance away, there were a very serious fire in Shepherds Court in Shepherd’s Bush. The fire destroyed the home and all the possessions of a number of families in the tower block. The fire was caused by a faulty Indesit tumble dryer which was subject to safety notice by Whirlpool. It turns out to have been a grim warning of what was to come, but one which – because no loss of life occurred – no heed was paid to.

Thousands of dangerous white goods are still being used in homes across London. To reduce the risk, London Fire Brigade have been pushing for substantial changes to product recall arrangements, as long advocated by the consumer champion and Twickenham resident Lynn Faulds Wood. Her excellent report was commissioned by the Department of Business and Innovation before the General Election in 2015.

What is disgraceful is that after I and my Lib Dem colleagues left the Coalition government, the issues were quietly dropped. No action was taken despite continued reports of defective equipment.

You can take action yourself by registering your appliances at https://www.registermyappliance.org.uk/, to get alerts if any of them become the subject of a manufacturer’s safety notice. If you are on Twitter I would also encourage you to follow the London Fire Brigade, and to take a look at their excellent website.

Government has plainly failed on fire safety, but I and my colleagues will continue to raise the issues. And we can all make a difference by taking precautions in our own homes and with our own appliances.