The decision to dismantle Grenfell Tower to ground level has been met with strong opposition from survivors and families of the 72 people who lost their lives in the fire that took place in 2017. Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, made the announcement during a meeting on Wednesday, amidst a great deal of controversy. While some members of the community want the tower to stay as a lasting memory of the disaster, others believe it should be removed entirely. Regardless, Grenfell United, a community organization representing the bereaved and survivors, have said that no-one at the meeting supported the decision to take the tower down.
Many local residents that wanted the tower removed, have stated that only the section of the structure that is structurally unsafe should be removed, yet retained as a memorial to remind people of the tragedy. Government officials will make a formal announcement regarding the tower’s future on Friday. Government spokespersons who were involved in Wednesday’s meeting, have indicated that the decision was based on the expert advice of engineers, despite previous warnings about the potential danger the structure posed to the public.
Representatives of Grenfell United claimed that Rayner failed to specify how many bereaved people and survivors were consulted before the decision was taken. The spokesperson condemned the action, stating that the decision to ignore the views of the bereaved on the future of our loved ones’ gravesite was “disgraceful and unforgivable”. The controversy is likely to continue, with a lot of people expressing their dissatisfaction with the decision and how it was arrived at.
The fire that took place in June 2017 was a result of a faulty fridge, igniting a fire that quickly spread, which led to the loss of 72 lives. The government was criticized for multiple failures that contributed to the spread of the fire, as well as the dishonesty of the firms and manufacturers of the combustible cladding that covered the tower. The dismantling of the Grenfell Tower will no doubt leave a remarkable gap in the community and its memory. However, reaching a decision that will cater to the wants of everyone who is affected by this tragedy is almost impossible to find
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