Grenfell survivors and relatives call for urgent action two years on from disaster

By Aine Fox14th June 2019News EnglandGrenfell Tower, Housing / Homelessness, London, News England, Social Housing, Top Stories, Trauma

Survivors and relatives of those killed in the Grenfell Tower blaze have reiterated a call for urgent fire safety recommendations to be made, saying such a move “could save lives”.

Two years on from the disaster that killed 72 people, families said they feel the inquiry has not delivered, and argued their voices are not being heard.

The inquiry’s first report was due to be published in spring but has been delayed until October.

It will focus on what happened on the night of the fire.

Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick has previously said he does not consider it appropriate to make interim recommendations ahead of the report and any recommendations he makes will be limited to the first phase.

But some survivors have become frustrated that safety recommendations, such as abandoning the “stay-put” policy for buildings over 10 storeys, are yet to be implemented.

Now lawyers for some of the affected families are calling again for urgent steps to be taken on “basic fire safety measures” to prevent a similar disaster.

Clarita Ghavimi, who managed to escape from the tower block, said: “We know that many issues will need more expert evidence and further investigation.

“But some things can be done now – a full review of the ‘stay-put’ policy by the fire brigade, basic safety measures in high rise blocks, like clear signs, clearly marked floor numbers, effective emergency lighting, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

“These steps do not need more evidence. They should start now, and could save lives.”

Graham French, a solicitor at Russell-Cooke who is representing some of the bereaved and survivors, said: “The survivors and families understand that there are many very complex and technical issues being addressed by the inquiry and its experts.

“But they also believe that there are urgent steps which can, and should, be taken now, including a number of basic fire safety measures in high rise blocks which we say are obvious and do not need further investigation or expert evidence.”

Dipti Hirani of Howe & Co, a solicitor representing another group of bereaved and survivors, said: “The chair’s decision not to make interim recommendations as previously promised has caused a breakdown of trust in the inquiry process – trust that was hard-earned.

“This news has been particularly upsetting for our clients given that we are now at the two-year anniversary, and yet no changes have been made to address the issue of public safety for those who live in high-rise residential buildings.

“It has always been our clients’ hope that lessons would be learned from this tragedy. Urgent steps need to be taken to prevent a repeat of the Grenfell Tower disaster. ”

Over 200 buildings with cladding similar to Grenfell yet to see removal work begin

More than 220 buildings with cladding similar to that used on Grenfell Tower in England have yet to see removal works begin, it has been reported.

Some 328 buildings are said to still have aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding two years on from the disaster that left 72 people dead.

According to figures from the Building Safety Programme (BSP) obtained by the BBC, work has not yet begun to remove cladding from 221 of them.

As of the end of May, 105 other high-rise buildings that had previously failed safety tests have had work to remove the cladding completed.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told the BBC: “The government has banned combustible materials in the external walls of new high-rise homes and guidance requires that sprinklers must be installed in new buildings above 30 metres.

“Building owners are ultimately responsible for the safety of the building and it is for them to decide whether to retro-fit sprinklers.”