Grenfell Tower block disaster

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

They're not holding their breaths, that's for sure!

I use to live within eyesight of Grenfell in the past, n was back around there only last week during carnival.

Lots of great minds and equally great folk in general been keeping up the long fight and will continue to do so.

Behind all the politics/politricks n finger pointing, there is still a community that is still healing whist also bringing so much overall awareness via the many initiatives and projects in place that help a people with a common unity thrive.

Whatever the outcome of today's inquiry, it'll never be definitive enough to bring total closure...

Can it now be demolished? Always a grim reminder as you drive over the A40 flyover, and even more so for those living in the shadow.

 

[Marklr]

Inquiry report to be published today. Usual public inquiry bollocks - blame spread thin and wide with everyone (no one) to blame

• The findings are expected to criticise successive governments, the building industry, manufacturers, and the London Fire Brigade

Thing is...what happened could have happened to hundreds of blocks of flats across the country. Loads in Salford.

 

[Maintainin]

Can it now be demolished? Always a grim reminder as you drive over the A40 flyover, and even more so for those living in the shadow.

Wish it were as simple as just totalling it all in one go, once n for all, but, undoubtedly there are so many complexities to be considered.

What will happen to Grenfell Tower?​

In the seven years since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, there have been mixed messages over the future of the tower block – much to the frustration of campaigners and former residents.

The government sent residents a letter in 2021 claiming it had received "important advice about the condition of the tower" and that it needed to consider if, and when, "the tower should be carefully taken down to maintain safety".

It said it would take the views of the community into account, but many survivors and campaigners pushed back, accusing the government of not consulting them properly, and expressing concerns over the building being demolished while the inquiry was still ongoing.

A report in the Sunday Times in September 2021 claimed ministers were set to announce the tower's demolition on advice of structural engineering experts hired by the government. Two months later, then-recently appointed housing secretary Michael Gove apologised for the leaked reports and said he was “truly sorry” for the “tremendous and justified upset”.

He pledged to take a "different approach", but not much has happened since then. Late last year, residents and relatives said they felt "left in limbo" after a £21.3m contract was tendered to provide maintenance and security for the tower until July 2027.

The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission, set up in 2018, is overseeing plans for a permanent memorial at the site. Its recommendations include a garden, a monument or other built structure and a design displaying the “rich mix of faiths and cultural backgrounds that make up the Grenfell community”.

It adds that the community "must always remain at the centre of decisions about the memorial". One option being considered is a vertical garden tower (sketches of which are pictured above) based on an idea by Italian architect Stefan Boeri.

Will Grenfell Tower be demolished?​

No firm decisions have been made about Grenfell Tower's future yet.

Early this year, Kimia Zabihyan, from the Grenfell Next of Kin group told BBC Radio 4 that the tower was a "sacred place for those who lost their parents and children and siblings and partners", which could explain why plans for a vertical garden have gained support.

Speaking to New Civil Engineer in 2021, National Federation of Demolition Contractors chief executive Howard Button said demolishing the block would not be straightforward. The rebar could be in a very bad state. The structural stability of the building must have degraded," he said.

“It must be a horrible building to go into. I wouldn’t want to be going in and clearing it. It is going to be very challenging.”

Yahoo News has contacted the Ministry of Housing – which took ownership of the site after the fire – and the Justice4Grenfell group for updates on when, if at all, the building could be demolished.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

And on this day, a fire is currently happening in a block in Catford. 10 engines present. 70 firefighters. Building looks like it has no cladding, or has since had it removed. Still looks bad though.

 

[heslops barnet]

Hoping for some jail time for the incompetents involved………

 

[Maintainin]

Grenfell Tower: Landmark report finds government ignored warnings about fire risks of high-rise buildings

"Systemic dishonesty" from cladding and insulation companies and a government that ignored warnings about the fatal risks to people in high-rise buildings contributed to the Grenfell disaster, a report has found.

news.sky.com

 

[Coatigan]

The company who supplied the cladding lied about the fire risks, do you not think that person/persons should serve time ?

Absolutely. If it were that simple.

It isn't, that's why it took 7 years and multiple iterations to get here.

But I haven't read the latest release, so won't argue that. Just interested in what people that make such comments think, that's all.

 

[Quad]

Let’s hope everyone who was involved in the lying about materials are sent down and sued

But no doubt nothing will happen

 

[Coatigan]

Let’s hope everyone who was involved in the lying about materials are sent down and sued

But no doubt nothing will happen

'Everyone involved', is much better than 'someone'. That has always been the difficulty here, impossible to narrow it down to one party or one issue. That's not saying nobody is responsible, obviously.

 

[Mike N]

The BBC did a weekly podcast when the enquiry was on, it made for fascinating listening. There’s a new series on now, ‘Building a Disaster’ that is well worth a listen.

It clearly showed that every single stakeholder was complicit in the disaster. From the Government, local Government (Building Control), Housing Association, architects, contractors, manufacturers and Fire Brigade all have blood on their hands. I have sympathy with the fire fighters who were very brave and saved many lives.

The fact that they managed to turn a fire-safe building into a tinder box is unbelievable. And 7 (seven!) years later people go to sleep at night worrying about a fire in unsafe buildings.

The residents were considered trouble makers. The race to the bottom continues to this day with the cheapest option always approved, ‘value engineering’ and fraud is alive and well in our construction sector.

Special mention for Eric Pickles, former Housing Minister and fat pig, who didn’t give a shit about the enquiry and chastised the Q.C. because he wanted to get his lunch.

My humble opinion is that no one is going to prison. No one ever does.