RESIDENTS living in eight London tower blocks – once branded “unsafe” by Sir Keir Starmer – have accused their Labour-run council of ignoring life-threatening fire risks.
Eight years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, locals of Royal Artillery Quays (RAQ) in Thamesmead, east London, say that Greenwich Council is “allowing history to repeat itself”.
Andrew StyczynskiResident Richard Partridge holding up a cut-out section of the external Polystyrene cladding[/caption]
Andrew StyczynskiAll eight tower blocks were given a ‘high fire risk’ rating in a report three years ago[/caption]
Andrew StyczynskiResidents have accused Greenwich Council of “ignoring” the life threatening risks[/caption]
After five years, developers are finally set to replace external cladding this month, but leaseholders have warned that internal fire safety issues are still being ignored – putting their lives in danger.
Pointing to the Grenfell tragedy, which claimed the lives of 72 people, RAQ Residents Association chair Stephen Day slammed councillors for “abandoning” him and his neighbours.
Speaking to The Sun, he fumed: “The inquiry said that concerns from residents regarding building safety were completely quashed and rubbished.
“It essentially said that, going forwards, residents need to be listened to whether you agree with them or not.
“Greenwich Council is failing. It should be listening to its residents and that is just not happening.
“It is belittling this campaign that we have fought so hard for over the past five years.
“We just want to try and get these buildings safe.”
The current project to remedy the external cladding was only agreed after a damning 2022 report from engineering firm Urban Change.
All eight buildings were deemed a “high fire risk”, with the investigation pointing to “poor workmanship” in the installation of the external wall insulation (EWI).
It found that some fire break fittings were missing, they were made of plastic instead of steel and the expanded polystyrene (EPS) render was not thick enough.
Works to replace 90% of the building facade were approved by the independent building safety regulator and will be undertaken by developers Barratt, who originally built the RAQ complex in 2002.
But residents argue there are major internal defects in the tower blocks that will remain untouched, sparking huge concerns.
They pointed to a fire stopping survey completed by officials in 2019, commissioned by RAQ property manager Rendall & Rittner.
Greenwich Council is failing. It should be listening to its residents and that is just not happening. It is belittling this campaign that we have fought so hard for over the past five years. We just want to try and get these buildings safe.
Stephen Day
The purpose of the inspection was to test whether internal areas and rooms had sufficient structural integrity to prevent fires spreading from one part of the building to another.
It revealed that three out of the eight tower blocks did not meet the minimum statutory safety requirements.
As a result, the inspectors reported that any fire at the properties could result in “significant loss” and potentially lead to prosecution of the responsible person(s).
The cost to replace similar issues discovered at the London Olympic Village is rumoured to be £432million.
Another worry for the leaseholders is that the single stair fire escape – the only route out in the event of a fire – is surrounded by “highly combustible” grey panels on each floor.
Andrew StyczynskiWorks to replace external cladding in the complex will begin this month[/caption]
Andrew StyczynskiStephen Day, chair of RAQ committee[/caption]
The Urban Change report argued that the aluminium corner panels in the stairwell should only be replaced on the first two storeys
This is despite the insulation used in these panels having a Euroclass E rating – one of the highest levels of combustibility according to the fire class system.
The buildings garnered national attention in 2021 when Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stood outside the towers and described the situation as “obviously wrong”.
Speaking outside the tower blocks, he said: “We need a task force to put some energy behind this.
How Grenfell tower disaster unfolded
THE Grenfell Tower fire which killed 72 people was the result of “decades of failure”, a long-awaited report into the blaze has found last year.
The west London tower block was covered in combustible products because of the “systematic dishonesty” of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation, the inquiry chairman said.
Sir Martin Moore-Bick called out “deliberate and sustained” manipulation of fire-safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the report identified “substantial and widespread failings”, adding that the Government will carefully consider its recommendations “to ensure that such a tragedy cannot occur again”.
The seven-volume and near-1,700 page final report of the inquiry into the disaster laid out in damning detail how those in positions of responsibility had not heeded or acted on warnings from earlier fires.
“At the moment almost everybody is saying it’s a bad situation, but it’s not really my responsibility.
“The result is that innocent leaseholders here, who are living in accommodation which is unsafe, are being asked to pick up the bill.
“That is obviously wrong and if it is obviously wrong, do something about it.
“Three and a half years after Grenfell, this is not on. Most people would not believe this is the situation we’re in.
“We owe it to all those affected to do something about it.”
Andrew StyczynskiMr Day highlighted the ‘highly combustible’ panels[/caption]
Andrew StyczynskiThe only fire escape stairwell is coated in the grey panels[/caption]
Andrew StyczynskiResidents claim that work to fix internal issues is not going ahead because the council refuses to support them[/caption]
Locals allege that plans to fix the internal defects are not going ahead because Greenwich Council refuses to support their claims that regulations were breached at the time of construction.
In an email seen by The Sun, initial plans appeared to show a fire door between the tower entrance and the lift lobby.
But when our reporters were taken for a tour of the property, it was clear that no such door had ever existed.
Ongoing battle
Catherine Dugué, who has lived in Tideslea Tower for more than two decades, fumed: “It never occurred to me that our local council would not support us, but rather fight against us.
“With the murderous tragedy of Grenfell Tower, and the shock that our homes too have unsafe cladding, I fully expected that the council would support and help us.
“We need Greenwich Council to support us and the internal defects need to be fully remediated.
“The council needs to retract its report that there was no evidence of building regulation breaches at the time of construction.
“I was there. I know the staircase was not enclosed.”
In a letter to all residents, Greenwich Council said: “The Council was asked if it could exercise power under the Building Act 1984 to ensure that necessary remediation works were carried out.
“The Council’s position is that there is no evidence to support action under the act.
“This is not to say that there are no issues with the construction of RAQ; indeed, everyone agrees remediation works are necessary.
Getty ImagesSmoke hindered rescue efforts as fires continued to burn with families trapped throughout the building[/caption]
The west London tower block was covered in combustible products
Rex FeaturesFire ripped through Grenfell Tower in Kensington, West London, on June 14, 2017[/caption]
“That position does not undermine the role of the BSR or the fact that remediation works have now been agreed.
“Building safety laws have changed since the original construction, and our focus is on moving forward to ensure the works agreed are completed within the timescale.”
Mast Quay, another development less than two miles away, was ordered to be torn down in 2023 and rebuilt after Greenwich Council said its towers were too different from approved plans.
Developer Comer Homes Group breached 26 planning conditions and allowed renters to move in, despite warnings to keep the flats empty while an investigation was ongoing.
And now residents have questioned why those towers were ordered to be demolished, while no similar action has been taken against the builders of RAQ.
It comes after an announcement last year that the RAQ developers would join a £150m Government-led venture to build thousands of homes across the country.
The partnership brings together Barratt, the UK’s leading housebuilder and Homes England, the Government body responsible for housebuilding.
A Barratt Redrow spokesperson said: “We are fully committed to remediating any fire safety issues identified in the original construction of these buildings.
“This is at no cost to leaseholders, in line with the Developer Remediation Contract we signed in 2023, and we look forward to starting work later this month, subject to all relevant permissions being in place.”
Council response
A spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Greenwich said: “On the anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, our thoughts as always are with the communities impacted by the disaster. We stand in solidarity with the Grenfell community.
“Royal Artillery Quays is a private residential development built by Barratt Homes.
“Although it does not have the same cladding as Grenfell Tower, we share the same concerns as residents about fire safety and the uncertainty they have faced due to the delay in cladding being replaced.
“The Government’s Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was set up in response to Grenfell disaster to ensure that there was a single regulator and that the buildings it is responsible for, including Royal Artillery Quays, meet the highest and most recent safety standards.
“Everyone in Royal Greenwich should have a safe and secure home and we welcome the fact that action is now happening: the BSR has now approved Barratt’s remediation plans and work will take place later this month.”
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Andrew StyczynskiThree out of the eight tower blocks did not meet minimum safety requirements[/caption]
Andrew StyczynskiRAQ developers have joined a £150m Government-led venture to build thousands of homes across the country[/caption]
Andrew StyczynskiLocals have pointed to a missing fire door as evidence of failings during construction[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
