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Grenfell survivors group beams safety messages onto high rises as anniversary approaches

Grenfell survivors have beamed fire safety messages onto three tower blocks nationwide to highlight the lack of progress with building safety on the eve of the two-year anniversary of the disaster.

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Frinstead House on the Silchester Estate, which neighbours Grenfell (picture: Grenfell United)
Frinstead House on the Silchester Estate, which neighbours Grenfell (picture: Grenfell United)
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Grenfell survivors group beams safety messages onto high rises #ukhousing

“2 years after Grenfell this building still has no sprinklers” – @GrenfellUnited beams safety messages onto high rises on eve of anniversary #ukhousing

The Grenfell United group was joined by residents of a private building in Manchester and a block in Newcastle with fire door problems in the stunt.

Frinstead House on the Silchester Estate, which neighbours Grenfell, had the message “2 years after Grenfell this building still has no sprinklers” beamed onto its walls in huge text.

Ministers have continually refused to mandate the retrofitting of sprinklers in high rises – despite the repeated recommendation of coroners investigating fatal fires.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told Inside Housing this week “the government believes an appropriate level of fire safety can be achieved without the need to retrofit sprinklers”.


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At the NV Buildings in Salford, Greater Manchester, the words “2 years after Grenfell this building is still covered in dangerous cladding” appeared on the tower.

The building is one of hundreds of private blocks around the country where building owners have refused to pay for remediation work of dangerous materials on the walls or fire safety defects.

Inside Housing’s End Our Cladding Scandal campaign is calling on government to fund the repair work on these towers.

But while £200m has now been set aside for towers with aluminium composite material cladding, ministers have bluntly refused to provide public money for other towers.

At the NV Buildings, the blocks have polystyrene insulation and residents face a £3m bill for removal work.

Finally, Cruddas Park House, a council-owned block in Newcastle, had the words “2 years after Grenfell the fire doors in this building still aren’t fit for purpose” projected onto its walls.

Thousands of defective fire doors have been identified across the country – with the majority of the problems associated with plastic composite doors.

The doors at Grenfell, which were newly installed composite models, provided less than half the fire resistance than required by guidance when tested – sparking a major testing regime.

Survivors, bereaved families and campaigners will gather near Grenfell Tower tomorrow night for a vigil and a silent march in memory of the 72 who lost their lives.

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