Grenfell Tower Fire

Can't imagine what all the people that live there are going through.

Such a sad tragedy.

RIP to all those who have died in that inferno.

Sent a chill through me this morning,when I thought about the people trapped inside. I'm sure the death toll will rise in the days ahead,and I can only echo the thoughts expressed by KP.
RIP.

Terrifying. I thought plastic cladding was banned in the U.K. But apparently it's not. Those poor people.

I'm thinking that the cladding wasn't too bad, but the gap between the cladding, only having a fire resistant filler, enabled the gap to become a funnel for the flames.

A terrible ending for so many, may they RIP.

I did the face fit for the company that carried out the refurbs on those flats a couple of weeks ago.

Devastating news. All the tower blocks in salford now have this cladding

I find this hard to believe, but on FIVELIVE this morning some expert said there was 4,000 of this type of tower block in the UK.

I can't belive that.

Apparently so. And only 12 with a sprinkler system

There are loads in salford and eccles. Probably about 30 jist off the top of my head which i know

My brother used to live on the top floor of one in East London. I often wondered how they would get out in an emergency, and this was 40 year ago.

The place i was working today in wolverhampton.  There was about 6 or 7 all in a row and then about 4 with a courtyard in the middle

y2johnny wrote:Apparently so. And only 12 with a sprinkler system

There are loads in salford and eccles. Probably about 30 jist off the top of my head which i know

 Yes, the 4,000 figure was repeated last night on ITV News.

Leadbitters were in the frame to do the refurb for £11.6 million but the client went for a £8.6 million job with someone else. Doesn't necessarily mean it would have been safer but there are protesters suggesting the council cut corners.

Fabulous image on the front page of the mirror today comparing may and the queen.

Well worth the read.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/16/grenfell-tower-rebuke-right-rampant-inequality

boltonbonce wrote:Well worth the read.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/16/grenfell-tower-rebuke-right-rampant-inequality

Yes, Bonce, a superb knowledgeable and wise article, drawing together the many factors which contributed to the disaster. I admired the way the writer was not afraid to nail the guilty parties and to denounce the Mail and The Express for the angle they adopted.

okocha wrote:

boltonbonce wrote:Well worth the read.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/16/grenfell-tower-rebuke-right-rampant-inequality

Yes, Bonce, a superb knowledgeable and wise article, drawing together the many factors which contributed to the disaster. I admired the way the writer was not afraid to nail the guilty parties and to denounce the Mail and The Express for the angle they adopted.

It's at times like this we need quality journalism. It's time some of the other rags stepped up to the plate.

boltonbonce wrote:

okocha wrote:

boltonbonce wrote:Well worth the read.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/16/grenfell-tower-rebuke-right-rampant-inequality

Yes, Bonce, a superb knowledgeable and wise article, drawing together the many factors which contributed to the disaster. I admired the way the writer was not afraid to nail the guilty parties and to denounce the Mail and The Express for the angle they adopted.

It's at times like this we need quality journalism. It's time some of the other rags stepped up to the plate.

Was a good read that Boncey from the Guardian and I completely agree with this.

Thanks bonce. I was going to post this but you beat me to it.

For those Tories on here who won't bother to read the article it amongst many other good points denounces the Daily Mail and Express for ludicrously and inaccurately trying to blame the EU for this disaster. A more suitable culprit seems to be Tory Kensington and Chelsea council which saved a total of £4750 by opting for the cheaper and more flammable version of cladding.

xmiles wrote:A more suitable culprit seems to be Tory Kensington and Chelsea council which saved a total of £4750 by opting for the cheaper and more flammable version of cladding.

Michael Gove claimed over £7000 in expenses last year.

Seems fair enough....

It's interesting that there is a lot of focus on the council allowing poor refurbishment standards, however I don't think this is the case.

I used to work as an engineer in a local council and eventually left to work in the private sector, councils have lost a lot of specialists and unlike in the past do not train up new apprentices with the skills necessary to manage the infrastructure they are responsible for.

a lot of the older guys with in depth knowledge left on voluntary redundancy and maintenance has been outsourced to management companies who again lack the technical expertise they need.

I deal with lots of councils looking at highway structures and they clearly don't have a Scooby on there responsibilities and the standards that they should be demanding from private contractors.

Fabians Right Peg wrote:It's interesting that there is a lot of focus on the council allowing poor refurbishment standards, however I don't think this is the case.

I used to work as an engineer in a local council and eventually left to work in the private sector, councils have lost a lot of specialists and unlike in the past do not train up new apprentices with the skills necessary to manage the infrastructure they are responsible for.

a lot of the older guys with in depth knowledge left on voluntary redundancy and maintenance has been outsourced to management companies who again lack the technical expertise they need.

I deal with lots of councils looking at highway structures and they clearly don't have a Scooby on there responsibilities and the standards that they should be demanding from private contractors.

Reduced staffing and outsourcing. Which political party is very keen on this? The same party that has cut local council funding.

There is a fundamental point about deregulation in there that goes to the heart of British politics.
For years our media has taken the piss out of health and safety and regulation in general. We are British so we are too hard to worry about stupid things like machinery guards, fire regulations, personal protective equipment, breaks for tiredness .... the list is endless. 
That smartarse attitude was translated into a complete disregard for EU standards and regulations and our media gave rise to the cocky "we know better because we're British" attitude that brought all the idiots out of the woodwork at the referendum.
After all the minimum wage and safe working practices are a hindrance to businesses according to the rich/tories.
The recent election in which the tories lost their majority showed that finally the working class are starting to wake up from a 40 year slumber.