ao link
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In

You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles

Grenfell Tower management refuses to release fire risk assessments

The Grenfell Tower management organisation has refused to provide fire risk assessments (FRAs) for all its tower blocks and other documents, despite several Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Linked InTwitterFacebookeCard
Sharelines

Grenfell Tower management refuses to release fire risk assessments

Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation said the release of the documents could prejudice the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire.

Inside Housing sent several FOIA requests to Kensington and Chelsea Council asking for the most recent FRAs for all residential tower blocks it owns, all fire risk assessments carried out at Grenfell Tower from 2010 onwards and documents relating to the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower.

The council said it had requested these documents but had not received them from Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), which manages all the council housing in the borough.


READ MORE

Applications open to participate in Grenfell InquiryApplications open to participate in Grenfell Inquiry
Corbyn accuses May of prioritising her party over Grenfell survivorsCorbyn accuses May of prioritising her party over Grenfell survivors
Grenfell inquiry will focus on cause and spread of fireGrenfell inquiry will focus on cause and spread of fire
MSPs: Scottish Government should consider intrusive inspections of tower blocksMSPs: Scottish Government should consider intrusive inspections of tower blocks

The council also cited the ongoing criminal investigation into the fire as a reason not to release the FRAs for Grenfell Tower.

The council said the TMO has documents relating to the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower, which includes details of a meeting between the contractor and firefighters in which the contractor demonstrated the fire safety features of the building, but had not provided the documents.

A spokesperson for KCTMO said: “Disclosure of the fire risk assessments at this stage would or could prejudice the forthcoming public inquiry. For that reason, we have taken the view that they should not be disclosed. We will of course keep this decision under review as matters progress.”

A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea Council said: “Our residents deserve answers about the Grenfell Tower fire and the police investigation and public inquiry will help provide these. We fully support the Metropolitan Police investigation and public inquiry and we will co-operate in every way we can.

“The council is in communication with the tenant management organisation, the fire brigade and the TMO’s fire risk assessors and has requested that the TMO supply the information requested.”

Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham recently said councils should not wait for FOIA requests before publishing fire risk assessments.

Additional reporting by Luke Barratt

Never Again campaign

Never Again campaign

Inside Housing has launched a campaign to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire

Never Again: campaign asks

Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.

LANDLORDS

  • Take immediate action to check cladding and external panels on tower blocks and take prompt, appropriate action to remedy any problems
  • Update risk assessments using an appropriate, qualified expert.
  • Commit to renewing assessments annually and after major repair or cladding work is carried out
  • Review and update evacuation policies and ‘stay put’ advice in light of risk assessments, and communicate clearly to residents

GOVERNMENT

  • Provide urgent advice on the installation and upkeep of external insulation
  • Update and clarify building regulations immediately – with a commitment to update if additional learning emerges at a later date from the Grenfell inquiry
  • Fund the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks across the UK (except where there are specific structural reasons not to do so)

We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.

The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.

 

READ MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN HERE

Linked InTwitterFacebookeCard
Add New Comment
You must be logged in to comment.