You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Grenfell Inquiry plans 6 July return
The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire is set to return on 6 July with limited attendance hearings.
In an update posted to its website today, the inquiry confirmed that it will resume hearings with numbers of people present capped to the bare minimum in order to comply with social distancing advice during the coronavirus pandemic.
Only members of the inquiry panel and counsel, the witness, the witness’ legal representative and anyone providing them with immediate support, plus one Press Association journalist, will be invited to attend in person besides workers needed to run the hearings.
Hearings will continue to be streamed online and remote support services will be available for the bereaved, survivors and residents affected by the fire.
The inquiry was suspended “until further notice” in March as the pandemic worsened, only two weeks after it had been delayed for a month by corporate witnesses’ requests to be granted protection from prosecution on the basis of their own oral evidence.
READ MORE
It had recently begun phase two hearings, focusing on the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower in which the building was fitted with highly flammable cladding.
Last month, the inquiry revealed that a consultation with core participants had led to the “clear conclusion” that limited attendance hearings “presents the best way in which the inquiry can pursue its important work with the necessary urgency”.
Today’s statement said: “The inquiry is working towards resuming hearings on Monday 6 July at 13 Bishop’s Bridge Road, and is proceeding on the basis that the current restrictions will remain in place.
“Hearings will only resume if it is safe to do so and remains consistent with the available guidance and the government’s easing of restrictions.
“The panel’s primary concern is the health, safety and well-being of all those who would need to attend.
“The inquiry team has been working with its contractors to put arrangements in place so that a limited number of attendees can use the inquiry premises safely and in line with government guidelines.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson wrote to inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick last week with an update on the government’s work to implement recommendations from the phase one report.
In response, Sir Martin said he is “heartened by the steps that are being taken by the government and others to improve the safety of buildings generally, and in particular high-rise residential buildings”.
The Government Property Agency will undertake “a thorough risk assessment” to ensure the hearings meet health and safety requirements and attendance numbers will be kept under review, it added.
“The panel are particularly keen for the bereaved, survivor and resident community to return when possible, but their safety must be our overriding concern and it is too early to suggest when or how that might be possible,” the statement said.
As of 8 June, the inquiry had disclosed a total of 175,085 documents: 20,752 in phase one and 154,333 in phase two.
Sign up for Inside Housing’s weekly Grenfell Inquiry newsletter
Each week our sister publication Inside Housing sends out a newsletter rounding up the key news from the Grenfell Inquiry, along with exclusive analysis of what it all means for the social housing sector.
Already have an account? Click here to manage your newsletters
