Seven years since the Grenfell Tower fire, survivors and families affected by the tragedy say they feel forgotten. According to the BBC, residents have stated that there has been insufficient support provided and described some as “walking unhealed”. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said it was committed to reviewing the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which is expected to be published in September of this year. Last week, the council announced that £42m in financial support would be provided to survivors and the local community.
Sami Hannachi was on the phone to his friend Steve Power, a resident of the tower, on the night of the fire. Mr Power headed back into the tower to wake up his daughter and save his dogs, tragically losing his life as a result. Hannachi has been a witness to the Grenfell Inquiry and describes feeling forgotten on the Lancaster West Estate: “We’ve been living in a building site for the last seven years…We’ve had no normality. We’ve been like the forgotten estate”. The borough council responded to Hannachi stating that construction work is only permitted from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm. It also stated that temporary flats, bookable workspaces and extra financial support were offered to residents affected by the noise.
Jacqui Haynes led the residents’ association following the fire and ran ‘The Curve’, a space in which residents could gain access to therapy and support. However, two years ago, the service was ended by the borough council. Haynes says residents are now being treated as if they have returned to normal. For some locally, support has been inadequate, and “most people haven’t healed”. Community activist and lawyer Yvette Williams, who is a founding member of the Justice4Grenfell action group, comments that she feels justice for those who died, bereaved families, and the wider community “still feels far away”.
Hope Gardens, run by Marcia Robinson and volunteers, was created as a community space for those who wanted to donate food, clothes and time in the aftermath of the fire. This was a supportive space where people gathered to express themselves after the twice-yearly silent walk. During the pandemic, people who lost loved ones turned out to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the fire and show solidarity. Some carried signboards demanding “safe and secure homes for all” and “justice for Grenfell”.
Kensington and Chelsea Council leader, Elizabeth Campbell, admits that the council could and should have done more to ensure the safety of residents and support them following the fire. Campbell expresses that the council is committed to learning from the forthcoming Grenfell Inquiry and rebuilding its relationship with the community. The final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry will be published in September
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