You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
PM meets Grenfell survivors to discuss inquiry and rehousing
The prime minister met with representatives of the Grenfell Tower residents and bereaved yesterday at Downing Street.
A Downing Street spokesperson said Theresa May spoke to members of Grenfell United, survivors and the bereaved yesterday afternoon about the Grenfell Tower inquiry, housing and the future of the site.
The government and Kensington and Chelsea Council have pledged to include residents in any decision on the future of the Grenfell Tower site.
The PM was criticised for visiting the site but failing to meet with residents just days after the fire. Since then she has met with survivors and the bereaved on several occasions and revealed to them that Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation would no longer manage the estate where Grenfell is located.
READ MORE
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister met with committee members of Grenfell United, survivors and the bereaved at Downing Street this afternoon. They discussed many issues including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, housing and the future of the site.
“Last month a set of written principles, signed by community representatives, the government and Kensington and Chelsea Council confirmed that survivors, bereaved families and the community will be at the heart of deciding what happens to the future of the Grenfell Tower site.”
A spokesperson for Grenfell United said: “We we’re pleased to meet with the prime minister this week. We discussed the future of the site and the agreement that survivors, bereaved families and the community will be at the heart deciding the future of the Grenfell Tower site.
“We also raised once again our concerns with the inquiry and repeated our ask for an expert panel to sit alongside the judge. And we shared our frustrations about the delays people are facing to move into new homes. It’s important to all of us that the voices of survivors, bereaved and the community continue to be heard at the highest levels of government.”
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.
