Remembering Grenfell: Lessons We Must Learn

At Tower Blocks UK, we stand with the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, a tragedy that claimed 72 lives and revealed huge failures in fire safety regulations. The recent Netflix documentary, Grenfell Uncovered, serves as a powerful reminder of the tragedy of 14th June 2017 and highlights the ongoing quest for justice and accountability. As we reflect on the events surrounding Grenfell, we honour the memories of those lost and confront the uncomfortable truths about the systemic issues that allowed this disaster to happen.

The documentary paints a picture of the catastrophic failures that led to the fire. It exposes the role of companies whose greed and negligence took precedence over the safety of the residents. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry found that Arconic, Celotex, and Kingspan engaged in 'systematic dishonesty' by manipulating testing processes and misrepresenting the fire safety of their cladding and insulation products. This complete disregard for human life demonstrates the systemic failures driven by a desire to make profit rather than prioritse public safety.

A year before the Grenfell fire, our co-founder Sam Webb MBE confronted Brian Martin, who oversaw fire safety guidance at the time. Sam challenged him about the significant risks due to insufficient safety regulations.

In his witness statement to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Sam recounted, “I put the following to (Martin). If (Approved Document) B wasn’t rewritten in clear language, as the Lakanal Coroner had recommended, then another fire like Lakanal was inevitable. If it happened in the middle of the night when people were asleep, then the death toll was likely to be 10 to 12 times the six who died in the 2009 Lakanal fire. Brian Martin’s reply to me was, ‘Where’s the evidence? Show me the bodies.’

Sam's evidence went on to say - “At that time, I’d never heard the name Grenfell Tower. The impression I gained from Brian Martin was that if it hasn’t happened, then it wouldn’t happen. It was as if he needed a disaster before he or the government would act.”

The Inquiry exposed a broader culture of negligence and a shocking lack of urgency in the fire safety sector. Grenfell Uncovered dives into these issues, highlighting the negligence and corruption that paved the way for this disaster. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and other bodies including Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) failed to respond to warnings from the Grenfell Action Group in the lead up to the fire. The dangers of materials like Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding were downplayed, while cost-cutting measures took precedence over resident safety, turning what should have been safe homes into death traps.

Our relationship with journalist Pete Apps, who features prominently in Grenfell Uncovered, emphasises the importance of investigative journalism in holding those responsible accountable. Pete’s commitment to uncovering the truth has been instrumental in bringing to light the systemic failures and corporate greed that allowed Grenfell to happen. As he exposes these failures, we are reminded that advocacy for stricter safety standards and regulations is more crucial than ever to protect tower block residents across the UK.

In memory of the victims, Tower Blocks UK is committed to advocating for better safety regulations and holding regulatory bodies accountable. We must ensure that the lessons of Grenfell are not forgotten, and that such tragedies do not reoccur. Alongside community activists and survivors, we will continue to honour the memory of those who lost their lives by demanding justice and systemic change. The journey towards justice continues.