Sat 16 Jun 2018, 08:21 AM | Posted by editor
Letter from Mark Langabeer
Despatches investigative reporter, Ed Howker, raised doubts about the Government’s claim that they have leant the lessons of Grenfell.
He interviewed David Collins, the former chair of the Grenfell Residents Association, who requested the council to investigate the Tenants Management Organisation, the body responsible for the refurbishment of the Tower. The failure of the council to respond to the concerns of residents was the main reason for the fire. He expressed fears that more tower block fires will occur.
It’s estimated that 1800 buildings have combustible cladding, including schools and hospitals. Lord Parker, the chair of the Local Government Association, believes that the problem goes further than the type of cladding used at Grenfell. There are other types of combustible materials which are not included in the review set up after the fire.
The programme suggested that the review, headed by Dame Judith Hackett has proved to be a waste of time. This is due to the fact that the current building regulations have remained unchanged. A coroner’s report into a tower block fire in South London that resulted in six deaths, recommended that sprinklers should be installed in all tower blocks.
The programme cited the experience of a tower block fire in Melborne, Australia, where the building had cladding similar to Grenfell. However, the building had sprinklers and all the 450 occupants were evacuated safely. The Fire Service and the Parliamentary committee on fire safety have long, called for changes in building regulations that make sprinklers mandatory
The truth of the matter is that the Tories and their big business backers believe that the introduction of sprinklers and banning combustible material on buildings represent a ‘cost’ on business and will not be implemented. Only under a Labour Government, committed to a programme of public ownership of the major building contractors under the control of Its staff and residents, will fire safety be paramount.
