Home Business News Notting Hill tower inferno: Grenfell Action Group warned there will be a ‘catastrophic event’
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Notting Hill tower inferno: Grenfell Action Group warned there will be a ‘catastrophic event’

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written by 14th Jun 17 3:21 pm

How can this happen in 2017?

The Grenfell Action Group has repeatedly warned the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) that there will be a “catastrophe” over safety warnings since 2013, but it “fell on deaf ears.”

Reading through the Grenfell Action Group’s blog, it is very clear that the group have been voicing their concerns to KCTMO for four long years and even said that “only a catastrophic event” will make their voices heard, sadly it is now too late for some.

In 2015 the group wrote on their blog: “In October 2015 a fire ripped through another KCTMO property, the 14 storey Adair Tower in North Kensington, causing mass panic and resulting in a number of residents taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

“It is reported that had it not been for the swift actions of the London Fire Brigade the consequences of this fire and potential loss of life could have been much worse.”

Ellen of News Corp Australia posted this on Twitter:

They further wrote: “A further audit by the London Fire Brigade of the neighbouring Hazelwood Tower (located alongside Adair Tower) found similar breaches of health and safety legislation and an Enforcement Order was also issued for this property forcing the TMO to address the serious concerns of the Fire Brigade’s inspectors.

“What is shocking is that a decade ago a fatality occurred due to a fire at Hazelwood Tower and the Fire Investigation Team ordered that the grills on the fire escape staircase be covered over.”

The action group said that, “only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of our landlord.”

The most shocking of all is reading this on their blog: “It is a truly terrifying thought but the Grenfell Action Group firmly believe that only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of our landlord, the KCTMO, and bring an end to the dangerous living conditions and neglect of health and safety legislation that they inflict upon their tenants and leaseholders.”

Council leader Nick Paget-Brown said to the BBC that the buildings were regularly inspected and a “thorough investigation” is needed.

He said that the “devastating blaze” spread “very quickly”, he added: “We know nothing about how it started, but it appears to have spread very quickly.

“The council will always ensure that its own properties are inspected by the fire service.”

A Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea spokesman said: “At present all our focus is on supporting the rescue and relief operation.

“The cause of the fire will be fully investigated and we will keep people informed and this page will be updated throughout the day.”

It is understood that the block had a £10m refurbishment in 2016 and that it has also been ‘purported’ that the tower block met all health and safety standards.

Robert Black, Chief Executive of Kensington & Chelsea TMO, said in a statement on Wednesday: “The fire at Grenfell Tower is devastating and the reports of injury and losses of life absolutely heartbreaking. Along with my colleagues, I have been supporting residents since the early hours, working with the emergency services and the community. Respite centres are at Latymer Community Centre, St Clement’s Church, Harrow Club and Rugby Portobello Trust. The Casualty Bureau Number is 0800 0961 233.

“Currently we’re focussing on helping those residents and London Fire Brigade is investigating the safety of the tower’s structure but we will issue a further statement in due course.”

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