Dustcarts are to be fitted with on-board sprinkler systems after a spate of mysterious fires decimated the borough's fleet.
Five Dennis Eagle vehicles have burst into flames since 1998 but a report into the cause of the fault proved inconclusive.
The first batch of 20 new Dennis Eagle dustcarts was due to arrive this week as part of a deal worth £5.5million. The company has fitted sprinkler systems for free and will upgrade Barnet's five existing Dennis Eagle dustcarts.
Councillor Geof Cooke, Barnet Council's cabinet member for environment, said: "Working closely with our partners, we have come up with a modern safety system that will not only protect our borough but could be used by all local authorities."
But the delivery of the new vehicles may reignite controversy surrounding their ordering. Barnet Council claimed it delayed the decision until the end of June to wait for a report into the blazes.
It emerged that Steve Presland, head of environmental services, had appeared in Dennis Eagle's June newsletter, describing the vehicles as "top-notch".
Angry union representatives denied Mr Presland's claim the workforce backed the order before a safety report was published.
This week Tony Warr of the GMB union said: "We hope this common-sense approach demonstrates how seriously we take the issue of health and safety."
December 4, 2001 17:53
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