Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington - news and discussion

[scifisam]

Presumably the building will have to come down completely after this. And I doubt whatever gets built in its place will be social housing with priority for the original residents.

It's looking like it might fall over all by itself. The pictures are so shocking - like something from a movie where you'd say nah, it'd never happen like that.

I hate to think what's going to happen to the tenants. Stuck in a B&B then shipped out somewhere hundreds of miles from home, probably. And yup, there'll be more luxury flats to lie empty.

 

[Teaboy]

Harley Facades were pretty quick to take down their page about the Grenfell Tower development. It sounds as though in this case their product did make the situation worse, causing the fire to rapidly spread all over the building.

They were just the installer not the manufacturer of the system. Its not surprising that you'd take down a case study of project (designed to show your expertise) under the circumstances. Even if its not their fault this will probably bankrupt them again, possibly the main contractor Rydon as well.

They may yet be at blame due to the installation but its too early to know. The cladding system as specified was a non-combustible system yet eye witness reports have it lighting up like painted wood. Its astonishing what has gone on and I'm struggling to get my head around it.

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

horrendous

 

[planetgeli]

And speaking of cunts, latest press release from KCTMO

It is too early to speculate what caused the fire and contributed to its spread. We will co-operate fully with all the relevant authorities in order to ascertain the cause of this tragedy.

We are aware that concerns have been raised historically by residents. We always take all concerns seriously and these will form part of our forthcoming investigations. While these investigations continue with our co-operation, our core priority at the moment is our residents

 

[dessiato]

It's looking like it might fall over all by itself. The pictures are so shocking - like something from a movie where you'd say nah, it'd never happen like that.

I hate to think what's going to happen to the tenants. Stuck in a B&B then shipped out somewhere hundreds of miles from home, probably. And yup, there'll be more luxury flats to lie empty.

And then there's the ongoing problems associated with them not being able to get to work from wherever they're sent, the probability of losing their jobs due to PTSD, the problems of not having anyone around them that can empathise, the problems of not having family and friends to help, etc

But someone, somewhere, will build the luxury/expensive to rent flats and make a fortune out of the misery of these people.

 

[Teaboy]

Grenfell Tower was covered in material to keep luxury flat owners happy. That’s being blamed for multiple deaths

Both unsurprising and shocking at once.

I think updating the look of the building is of benefit to everyone in the area, especially the residents. If you're trying to get planning permission you reach out to people likely to complain by telling them it will improve the area.

Interestingly that article then goes on to back up exactly what I've been saying and the cavity behind the cladding.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Teaboy - thanks for your informative & very reasonable posts on here.

 

[Pickman's model]

And speaking of cunts, latest press release from KCTMO

i wonder if any of the people who raised those concerns are among the dead

 

[cupid_stunt]

LBC has published a list of links where you can donate:

Grenfell Tower Fire: How To Help Victims Of The Fire - LBC

I assume they have checked them out, I hope so, as I've just donated on the first link on that page.

 

[butchersapron]

This is Hillsborough stuff - with loads of potential other Hillsborough's all over.

 

[Idris2002]

This is Hillsborough stuff - with loads of potential other Hillsborough's all over.

Bang on. Hopefully it won't take the guts of thirty years to get justice, though.

 

[1927]

This is Hillsborough stuff - with loads of potential other Hillsborough's all over.

More like Bradford really, but everyone's forgotten about that!

 

[butchersapron]

More like Bradford really, but everyone's forgotten about that!

It won't be one or the other - the common theme was w/c people dying for no reason. Only in one were the victims painted like dirt for 25 years. Let's leave that there (the pointless comparisons) please.

 

[Who PhD]

I predict no accountability for this.

the guy May just promoted back into office was the tory housing minister who sat on the report that there were exactly these kinds of problems.

 

[dessiato]

More like Bradford really, but everyone's forgotten about that!

No, it's not forgotten. I'll not derail this thread by talking about it, but I'm 100% certain that, like me, there's a lot of us on these boards who remember it all too clearly.

 

[1927]

One horrible thought I had is where does the responsibility lie for carrying out the fire risk assessment? Who was in control of the building, was it the landlord or the TMO? If it's the TMO, they could find themselves prosecuted even tho they were making the landlord aware of issues!

I don't know how the law stands in this respect!

 

[Pickman's model]

I predict no accountability for this.

the guy May just promoted back into office was the tory housing minister who sat on the report that there were exactly these kinds of problems.

quoted for posterity.

i think there will be accountability as it's not like this came out of nowhere, it was predicted and it occurred.

 

[cybershot]

It's looking like it might fall over all by itself. The pictures are so shocking - like something from a movie where you'd say nah, it'd never happen like that.

I hate to think what's going to happen to the tenants. Stuck in a B&B then shipped out somewhere hundreds of miles from home, probably. And yup, there'll be more luxury flats to lie empty.

Enough empty apartments lying around London doing nothing, least some landlords could do is house these people, even if it's only for a couple of weeks. but they won't, because, you know....H&S or some other bullshit.

Hopefully there's plenty of people out there offering at the very least a sofa and a meal I'm sure. However it's going to be the mental trauma that needs to be treated delicately. None of the survivors should be left alone at this moment in time.

 

[Pickman's model]

No, it's not forgotten. I'll not derail this thread by talking about it, but I'm 100% certain that, like me, there's a lot of us on these boards who remember it all too clearly.

yeh it was another horrific day

 

[agricola]

I predict no accountability for this.

the guy May just promoted back into office was the tory housing minister who sat on the report that there were exactly these kinds of problems.

Once perhaps - but this is too big, they fill all the positions of responsibility here and they are too weak in Parliament for them to escape accountability this time.

 

[Pickman's model]

Enough empty apartments lying around London doing nothing, least some landlords could do is house these people, even if it's only for a couple of weeks. but they won't, because, you know....H&S or some other bullshit.

Hopefully there's plenty of people out there offering at the very least a sofa and a meal I'm sure. However it's going to be the mental trauma that needs to be treated delicately. None of the survivors should be left alone at this moment in time.

equally they should not be smothered with kindness. they'll need some space to come to terms with what has happened.

 

[Wilf]

Bang on. Hopefully it won't take the guts of thirty years to get justice, though.

Yep. In some ways I don't want to get into where this goes to on the day when it's actually happening. But getting angry is really the best act of solidarity. And on the Hillsborough comparison, you can almost be certain the survivors of the fire will probably end up having to bring a private prosecution at some point in the future.

 

[phillm]

And what was Blair but a Tory in disguise?

Not really in disguise he was Thatcher's chosen one.

 

[nogojones]

I know people are pretty raw at the moment but I do think there are a lot of leaps being made. Lets bear in mind that this block was refurbished, it was clearly intended to make the lives of the residents better. Elsewhere residents have had their homes knocked down and turned into yuppie flats whilst they have found themselves turfed out to Essex or wherever. This one was a case of improving existing housing stock.

Whilst there clearly are wider issues regarding the effects of cuts on fire brigades and quite clearly a serious issue with the way the building was managed, currently on the face of it it the fire itself does appear to be a construction issue. How it spread so quickly is unclear and very worrying.

From the Indy article above it seemed that the refurbishment was about asthetics for neighbouring private blocks and not about what the Grenfell residents wanted or were raising concerns about for years

 

[Pickman's model]

Not really in disguise he was Thatcher's chosen one.

yeh he made a choice as to which party to join, which one he would have a better chance to succeed in.

 

[Teaboy]

the guy May just promoted back into office was the tory housing minister who sat on the report that there were exactly these kinds of problems.

This is the reports that Barwell had advice that building regs regarding fire needed to be tightened up. If it does turn out that the construction work was carried out correctly and in-line with regs and the materials used were suitable than the fall-out will be massive. Absolutely massive.

 

[DotCommunist]

that's unbelievable

fucking tories

iirc Hollobone is one of the talkers out. He's fucking vile and they all are, the damned rentier class.

 

[Pickman's model]

This is the reports that Barwell had advice that building regs regarding fire needed to be tightened up. If it does turn out that the construction work was carried out correctly and in-line with regs and the materials used were suitable than the fall-out will be massive. Absolutely massive.

heads will roll

 

[ruffneck23]

I predict no accountability for this.

the guy May just promoted back into office was the tory housing minister who sat on the report that there were exactly these kinds of problems.

Well that's another own goal for her not that this should get political , yet..

 

[Pickman's model]

Well that's another own goal for her not that this should get political , yet..

all roads lead to number 10 it seems