Shorouk Express
Grenfell Tower is set to be demolished in a “sensitive” process that will take around two years.
The government said on Friday that the tower, which was preserved after the horrific blaze ripped through the building and killed 72 people in June 2017, will be “carefully” taken down.
Ministers had been met with fierce criticism from some bereaved families and survivors of the fire following a private meeting about its future earlier this week.
Confirmation of the decision has led to calls for ministers and others to “accelerate the pursuit of justice” after an official inquiry found “decades of failure” had led to the tragedy.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who is responsible for housing, is understood to have been met with gasps from shocked families and survivors on Wednesday after she told them it would be knocked down.
Grenfell United, which represents some of the bereaved and survivors of the fire, claimed the voices of many loved ones had been ignored.
“Angela Rayner could not give a reason for her decision to demolish the tower,” a spokesperson said.
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“She refused to confirm how many bereaved and survivors had been spoken to in the recent, short four-week consultation.
“But judging from the room alone – the vast majority of whom were bereaved – no one supported her decision. But she claims her decision is based on our views.”
However, Downing Street said Ms Rayner had offered bereaved family members and survivors “the opportunity to meet in person and online at different times and places”, and has “heard many views” through the process.
Ms Rayner pledged to ensure that materials from the site, communal areas or parts of the tower can be carefully removed to be included in the memorial if the community wishes.
No changes will take place before the eighth anniversary in June.
What is left of the tower has stood in place in the years since the fire, with a covering on the building featuring a large green heart accompanied by the words “forever in our hearts”.
Former housing secretary Michael Gove on Friday called on ministers and others to “accelerate the pursuit of justice” over the fire.
Paul Scully, who was minister for Grenfell under Liz Truss, told The Independent that when it came to the survivors and the bereaved: “I’d have hoped that there would have been comprehensive engagement over the last few months and years, not just at the point of decision.”
But he added: “It’s the right decision, as long as the site is properly used for reflection and remembrance, not just out of sight, out of mind as one member of the community feared.”
Sir Keir Starmer said on Thursday that the victims of the disaster must always be “in our mind’s eye” when asked about their claims of a lack of consultation.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said decision to take Grenfell Tower down was a “sombre moment.”
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“I know this was not an easy decision. I welcome the commitment from the Deputy Prime Minister today for continued support and engagement with the Grenfell Community on the issues that matter most to them and for a fitting and lasting memorial,” he said.
“We will always remember the 72 people who lost their lives. We owe it to the people who died, their loved ones and those who survived to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again.”
Engineering experts have said that while the tower remains stable, and it is safe for people to live, work and study nearby, its condition will worsen over time and there is no realistic prospect of bringing it back into use.
Fire damage to the upper levels of the tower has been made worse by weather, according to a 2020 report.
A government spokesperson said: “The deputy prime minister has considered independent expert advice. Engineering advice says that the tower is significantly damaged.
“It remains stable because of the measures put in place to protect it, but even with installation of additional props, the condition of the building will continue to worsen over time.
“Engineers also advise it is not practicable to retain many of the floors of the building in place as part of a memorial that must last in perpetuity.
“Taking the engineering advice into account, the deputy prime minister concluded that it would not be fair to keep some floors of the building that are significant to some families whilst not being able to do so for others and knowing that, for some, this would be deeply upsetting.”
