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| Grenfell Tower Fire Aftermath: 18 June 2017 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 18 2017, 12:19 PM (114 Views) | |
| Webster | Jun 18 2017, 12:19 PM Post #1 |
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Wasatch Storyteller & Resident Forum Curmudgeon
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(The Guardian) Residents affected by the Grenfell Tower atrocity were passionate and angry during a lengthy exchange with the prime minister, according to a bishop who sat with them. Sixteen “very ordinary people” sat in Downing Street on Saturday to bring their concerns to Theresa May in an “unprecedented” meeting and finally felt they were listened to, said the bishop of Kensington, Dr Graham Tomlin. He is hopeful the meeting which lasted nearly two hours, attended by victims, residents, community leaders and volunteers, was the starting point for a process of “lasting change”. He told the Press Association: “I’m positive because I think it was a real chance for local residents, people affected by this tragedy, to voice their concerns directly to the prime minister so that she could hear them. That’s why I’m positive about it, because I think in the past local residents here have not always been listened to.” He said that feeling of being ignored is a source of much “deep frustration”, and told how people have been left feeling “that decisions are taken about their lives and their homes that they are not party to”. He described the residents as “brilliant” in how they raised and explained their concerns to May: “I thought the way they expressed themselves with a mixture of passion and reason was fantastic, and I hope it’s the beginning of a process, not the end of a process, the beginning of a process of real listening between government, RBKC [the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council], local residents, that will bring about lasting change.” Following the meeting, May released a strongly-worded statement in which she said on-the-ground support for families in the immediate aftermath of the blaze “was not good enough”. She said she had ordered daily progress reports on housing for those affected, and vowed the public inquiry into the disaster would be “open and transparent”. Tomlin said the residents had gone from living normal lives before the tragedy to bringing their frustrations to the very top of government. He said: “Clearly it’s quite unprecedented for 16 very ordinary people, who this time last week were walking their dogs or talking to each other in the streets around here and north Kensington, actually to be in 10 Downing Street talking face-to-face with the prime minister. I think it was a good thing to do.” Asked if there were angry exchanges, he said: “We tried to hold it well as a meeting. There was passion, there was anger, but there was good, hard, reasoned argument used by the residents.” Tomlin said he believed residents left the meeting feeling “reassured that they were listened to”, but added: “Time will tell as to whether it makes a difference. We wait to see what action will come from it, but they were reassured that they were listened to.” |
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| Webster | Jun 18 2017, 01:58 PM Post #31 |
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Wasatch Storyteller & Resident Forum Curmudgeon
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(The Guardian) The British Red Cross have released a statement about their involvement in the aftermath of the disaster. Mike Adamson, chief executive of the charity, said they are planning to “step up” support and will be establishing a community assistance centre near the tower. Mike Adamson, chief executive of the British Red Cross, said: The British Red Cross has been actively helping those affected by this horrendous tragedy since the early hours of Wednesday morning. Our emergency response volunteers have been stationed within the rest centre and are providing both practical and emotional support to people in crisis. We will now step up to use our expertise in delivering humanitarian aid to support the establishment and running of a full-service community assistance centre, as well as to help with the donations given by the compassionate public. We will also help to enhance the psychosocial support available, and we are providing a dedicated helpline for people affected. The Red Cross movement exists to help people at times of most need and we are guided in our work by fundamental principles of neutrality, impartiality and unity. In recent days we have seen incredible acts of humanity from the community, and we will stand side by side them in helping people to recover. The Red Cross appeal has so far raised £885,000. |
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| Webster | Jun 18 2017, 02:24 PM Post #32 |
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Wasatch Storyteller & Resident Forum Curmudgeon
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(The Guardian) Earlier today firefighters leaving the scene at the end of their shift were greeted with a round of applause and cheers from the local community. Scores of people lined the street as two fire engines past by. Some of the London Fire Brigade crew appeared teary eyed as they wound down their windows to thank well wishers. Vincent McAviney, a presenter for LBC radio caught the moment on video. -Watch: https://twitter.com/Vinny_LBC/status/876391752856481792 |
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| Webster | Jun 18 2017, 02:39 PM Post #33 |
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Wasatch Storyteller & Resident Forum Curmudgeon
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(The Guardian) Kensington and Chelsea council has been relieved of responsibility for taking care of the survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster. The work is being handed over to a new Grenfell Fire Response Team, made up of representatives from central government, the British Red Cross, the Metropolitan police, London-wide local and regional government and the London Fire Brigade. It is embarrassing for the council, the wealthiest in the country, to have had to cede control. Eleanor Kelly, chief executive of Southwark Council: We want to make clear that whilst the emergency and local community response was nothing short of heroic, we know that the initial response was simply not good enough on the ground. People are angry, and rightfully so.Our focus is now ensuring those affected are being cared for and looked after. The team is to provide 24-hour access to services and support at the Westway Sport and Fitness Centre. Help is to be provided for housing, funds, health, social care, food and advice. Kelly said: Housing is our main priority. We will organise and speed up the rehousing process. We are currently working with those affected households to establish what their housing need is – as you can appreciate this takes time. By the end of Monday, 19 June, we aim to have contacted all known families affected by the fire and completed an assessment of what they need. The latest information we have is that 201 households have received emergency accommodation to date, of which 113 are homeless. The British Red Cross, who have been involved since Wednesday, has a team of more than 60 volunteers to provide help. They will help distribute donations and meet grieving relatives as they arrive at airports. Kelly said: There is nothing we can say that will blunt the feeling of loss and anger. But what I hope the new team and this package of support will start to get those affected by this tragedy the urgent assistance from the authorities they need. |
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| Webster | Jun 18 2017, 02:57 PM Post #34 |
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Wasatch Storyteller & Resident Forum Curmudgeon
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Here's the Guardian's live feed of continuing events concerning the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower Fire.... |
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