The week that was: 26 June – 2 July

The second full week after the Grenfell Tower fire saw the resignation of the KCTMO head, the leader of the council and the deputy leader. The week also saw the appointment of the judge who will lead the public inquiry, and it was revealed that the refurbishment plans originally specified fire-resistant zinc cladding, but this was replaced with a much cheaper aluminum cladding with plastic core.

The Grenfell Tower fire

We are all shocked by the horrific fire that engulfed Grenfell Tower in northern Kensington in the early hours of Wednesday 14 June. Shocked not just by the enormous death toll and human suffering, but just as much by the inability of both our council and the government to provide help during the first couple of days to all those who had been made homeless. While the fire services, the police and the ambulances were the heroes we expect them to be, the relief work was left to the local community groups.