London Fire -2

Just a ponder but why in this day and age do we have so much more that seems combustible in our homes, part of our homes? Is it a result of cheap and shoddy imports which may have been produced with manufacturing shortcuts and which probably would not pass building regulations, fire regulations?
Not just this shocking and tragic incident and the fact that these combustible panels have been used throughout the country (except Scotland, I do realise) but fridges catching fire, tumble driers catching light resulting in house fires, cars going up in flames etc. It does seem to be on the increase and yet, with all our knowledge these days, it should most definitely not.

BBC Radio Scotland broadcast an item this morning which explained that due to the more stringent building regulations in Scotland there are no tower blocks with this type of cladding and Gas is prohibited in high rises. Checks have been carried out urgently following the Grenfell disaster but no buildings have been deemed to be at risk. I know that Building regs have always been very stringent in Scotland with even tighter regulations for Council Housing than private (possibly because until recently most Councils were Labour controlled and most Labour Councillors lived in Council Houses themselves.)

I do not post this in order to gloat, or make a political point - only to reassure any Tower block dwelling GNetter's who may stay or have friends relatives living in such flats in Scotland because there has been (as far as I have seen) no mention of the Scottish situation on the so-called National News. Also, I think that it might be a good starting point for the enquiry to take a close look at the Scottish Regulations.

Whitewave, you are now becoming the most unpleasant poster , I have never treated the victims with anything less than respect and sorrow .

What a vile thing you have saud, you have become a bully

annie did you read my post? No? You are just like the housing minister -obfuscating.

Treat the survivors with more respect!!!

Really NOT care

For all their words of sincere sympathy and regret, they still appear to really care.

If they really cared they would do everything possible to get as much information into the open as possible.

Have a big meeting with the survivors, wheel in the police, firefighters, councillors and politicians with all the information they have to date. Answer questions. And be prepared to show some spine and take the brick bats.

But it isn't known all who was in the tower that night, so how can a number be given? It has been said some flats were sub let , neighbours may not want to sneak on neighbours

Not rocket science is it ww?

Threatened with legal action!! Which because of legal aid being cut couldn't fight back.

So how many people died?

Up to 600 people lived in the tower. 79 remains found.
44 families rehoused- but not all from the Tower - some from housing close by.

Not rocket science is it.

An announcement can and should be made along the lines

" The following information is known - x known to have lived in the Tower. Y known survivors. XY remains found. Any further information will be given out as soon as available".
"And we promise to stop treating people like fools"

Go to the rate payers list, voting lists, rent list, mortgage lists. School children - easy to find.

I'd be interested to know if any of the residents of Camden etc.. raised simliar worries with their local authorities.

What makes this even worse is that those residents of Grenfell Towers did raise their concerns and weren't just ignored, but knocked back.

Power surges were reported by the tenants in Grenfell. Nothing was done. Could this not have affected the fridge?

Every single Tower block that has been tested has been found at risk. Only 540 to go.

May said 100 a day will be tested. Well that is going well isn't it?

Housing Minister not at all clear whether Fire risk legislation will be tightened. In fact he wasn't clear about anything

I do know that Anya, if any of those councils now named had a tenant with a fridge/freeze bursting into flames they would have deaths in their unsafe tower blocks , I think I said this clearly, I was not dismissing the deaths, just saying it could have been any of those tower blocks

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/25/tower-block-residents-justice-ronan-point-grenfell

Are...not is. Sorry was typing when upset.

The 'only difference' ? Oh Annie please not, there is all those deaths.

Aloe Sharma was interviewed on Radio 4 this morning

Even I started feeling sorry for him, as he was clearly totally out of his depth.

where it was obvious that he knew the answer he obfuscated to the extent I suspect Sarah Montegue was quietly banging her head on the desk.

If the survivors suspect that there is a cover up, Sharma confirmed their fears.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/25/bill-protect-tenants-grenfell-housing-government

Amendments to protect tenants voted down by the government in 2015.

ONLY difference?
A few bodies as well, Annie.
That's callous, even in your zeal to find fault with Labour councils.

Some of those who received those threatening letters are now dead. Not a very pleasant post, POGS.
Other councils are being asked. Other builders have taken steps.
Tower blocks in Newcastle and Sunderland have been tested. Some have failed, but only small bits from a builder up here.
There are not that many places where they can be tested.

The fact that there are so many shows that the manufacturers mislead the builders in my opinion.
Developers wouldn't specify a material that they knew to be combustible, knowing that they would be liable if there was a fire.
It's the light touch regulations that allowed it to be got away with. Fire safety officers claim that they are no longer involved. They used to be. Who stopped that to save money?

By the way, POGS, do you never listen to local radio or watch local news?
It's on Radio Newcastle at the moment. Probably on your local radio, wherever you live.

Anyone of those named could have had a fridge/freezer bursting into flames , this is the only difference between Kensington ,Camden,Islington and the rest .

Not a squeak about Camden being prosecuted or anyone losing their jobs . Are councils now to blame for faulty electrical goods bought by the public?

What a thoroughly ridiculous post -POGS - heads should still roll at K&C and if you can link me to the evidence that all the other councils ignored the concerns of tenants then I'd say the same about them. God you lot on the right are so good at completely rewriting whar was said on threads to fit your own agendas.

I think if other councils, Conservative or Labour, are found to have studiously ignored the concerns of either their tenants or other organisations/individuals, then they too should be investigated thoroughly and, if found to be negligent, appropriate action taken.

Why people were so angry at Kensington & Chelsea is because groups of residents had reportedly raised these concerns over a significant amount of time and they were ignored. In fact, I read that some residents received letters threatening them with legal action if they continued to keep communuicating with the council. Added to that is the fact that Kensington & Chelsea is one of the richest councils in the UK, with a surplus of, I believe, £374 million. This council easily had the means to do things properly - to carry out rigorous investigations - employing independent experts if necessary - and to put right any safety defects that were identified.

It is as obvious as a naked hang glider that now the stories are coming out about the many other Councils such as Camden, Islington, Liverpool, Birmingham the voices that called for heads to roll have suddenly gone silent. Suddenly gone camera shy, perhaps it's the week end and they are off to more important duties than their own constituencies, perhaps a festival.

Mind you if and when they do resurface they will no doubt be congratulating themselves for a job well done.

There was/is a politicisation of a human tragedy and those who have crowed the loudest are now finding themselves in similar circumstances, MP's included.

Why are the questions being asked a week ago not being asked of other councils ?

As an aside, I actually think the cladding on the Camden blocks looks very smart.

Sorry roses I see what you mean. You mean helping the wealthy by making the building look better. I read that in a different way. I need to cool off.