Our tower block is covered in flammable cladding EIGHT YEARS after Grenfell – the council is gambling with our lives
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
14
Resident Richard Partridge holding up a cut-out section of the external Polystyrene cladding
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
14
All eight tower blocks were given a 'high fire risk' rating in a report three years ago
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
14
Residents have accused Greenwich Council of "ignoring" the life threatening risks
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
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.
Read more News
"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.
Most read in The Sun
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.
Government 'failed', 'dishonest' firms & 'indifferent' landlords – damning report into Grenfell tragedy which killed 72
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
RAQ Residents Association chair
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.
14
Works to replace external cladding in the complex will begin this month
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
14
Stephen Day, chair of RAQ committee
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
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
By Summer Raemason
THE Grenfell Tower fire which killed 72 people was the result of "decades of failure",
The west London tower block was covered in combustible products because of the "systematic dishonesty" of firms who made and sold the
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
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.'
14
Mr Day highlighted the 'highly combustible' panels
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
14
The only fire escape stairwell is coated in the grey panels
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
14
Residents claim that work to fix internal issues is not going ahead because the council refuses to support them
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
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.
14
Smoke hindered rescue efforts as fires continued to burn with families trapped throughout the building
Credit: Getty Images
14
The west London tower block was covered in combustible products
14
Fire ripped through Grenfell Tower in Kensington, West London, on June 14, 2017
Credit: Rex Features
"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."
Do you know more? Email samuel.creed@news.co.uk
14
Three out of the eight tower blocks did not meet minimum safety requirements
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
14
RAQ developers have joined a £150m Government-led venture to build thousands of homes across the country
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
14
Locals have pointed to a missing fire door as evidence of failings during construction
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Palestinians awaiting aid trucks are killed as UN warns of man-made drought
Nidal al-Mughrabi and Olivia le Poidevin ©Reuters Israeli fire killed at least 44 Palestinians in Gaza yesterday, many of whom had been trying to get food, local officials said, while the United Nations' children's agency warned of a looming man-made drought in the enclave as its water systems collapse. At least 25 people awaiting aid trucks were killed by Israeli fire south of Netzarim in central Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run local health authority said. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week.
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
EuroMillions results and numbers: National Lottery draw tonight, June 20
THE draw for tonight's National Lottery EuroMillions (June 20, 2025) has taken place, with life-changing cash prizes at stake. Check the results to see if you have just won a fortune and bagged enough to start that jet-set lifestyle you always dreamed of. 2 Have you got the winning EuroMillions ticket? Every EuroMillions ticket also bags you an automatic entry into the UK Millionaire Maker, which guarantees at least one player will pocket £1million in every draw. You can find out if you're a winner by checking your ticket against tonight's numbers below. Tonight's National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers are: 05 , 08 , 24, 37, 47 and the Lucky Stars are: 03 , 09. The UK Millionaire Maker Selection winners are: READ MORE EUROMILLIONS ZNZP75021 TNBC30976 HNBR22291 HNBG00357 Most read in The Sun XNBL07259 VNZV56928 HNBZ00729 VNBF50450 MNBC35019 ZNBP60221 JNZZ66637 HNZR99573 HMZR34844 JQDG19394 Tonight's National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are: 09 , 17 , 32, 33, 35 and the Thunderball is 06 . TOP 5 BIGGEST LOTTERY WINS IN THE WORLD £1.308 billion (Powerball) on January 13 2016 in the US, for which three winning tickets were sold, remains history's biggest lottery prize £1.267 billion (Mega Million) a winner from South Carolina took their time to come forward to claim their prize in March 2019 not long before the April deadline £633.76 million (Powerball draw) from a winner from Wisconsin £625.76 million (Powerball) Mavis L. Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts claimed the jackpot in August 2017 £575.53 million (Powerball) A lucky pair of winners scooped the jackpot in Iowa and New York in October 2018 The first EuroMillions draw took place on February 7, 2004, by three organisations: France's Française des Jeux, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado in Spain and the Camelot in the UK. One of the UK's biggest prizes was up for grabs on December, 4, 2020 with a whopping £175million EuroMillions jackpot, which would make a winner richer than Adele. Another Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs in Scotland, netted a huge £161,653,000 in the July 12, 2011. Adrian and Gillian Bayford, from Haverhill, Suffolk, picked up £148,656,000 after they played the draw on August, 10, 2012, while The odds of winning any EuroMillions prize are 1 in 13. Could tonight's jackpot of £14 million see you handing in your notice and swapping the daily commute for slurping champagne on a super yacht or lying back on a private beach in the Bahamas? 2 EuroMillions tickets come with an automatic entry into the UK Million Maker too
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Lottery results and numbers: Lotto and Thunderball draw tonight, June 18, 2025
THE NATIONAL Lottery results are in and it's time to find out who has won a life-changing amount of money tonight ( June 18, 2025). Could tonight's £5.2 million jackpot see you handing in your notice, jetting off to the Bahamas or driving a new Porsche off a garage forecourt? Advertisement 3 Could you win big tonight with the National Lottery? 3 Previous winners have gone on to build mansions and buy islands You can find out by checking your ticket against tonight's numbers below. Good luck! Tonight's National Lottery Lotto winning numbers are: 08, 15, 31, 38, 44, 49 and the Bonus Ball is 59 . Tonight's National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are: 05, 07, 10, 11, 18 and the Thunderball is 02 . The first National Lottery draw was held on November 19 1994 when seven winners shared a jackpot of £5,874,778. Advertisement READ MORE ON LOTTO The largest amount ever to be won by a single ticket holder was £42million, won in 1996. Gareth Bull, a 49-year-old builder, won £41million in November, 2020 and ended up knocking down his bungalow to make way for a luxury manor house with a pool. TOP 5 BIGGEST LOTTERY WINS ACROSS THE WORLD £1.308 billion (Powerball) on January 13 2016 in the US, for which three winning tickets were sold, remains history's biggest lottery prize £1.267 billion (Mega Million) a winner from South Carolina took their time to come forward to claim their prize in March 2019 not long before the April deadline £633.76 million (Powerball draw) from a winner from Wisconsin £625.76 million (Powerball) Mavis L. Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts claimed the jackpot in August 2017 £575.53 million (Powerball) A lucky pair of winners scooped the jackpot in Iowa and New York in October 2018 Sue Davies, 64, bought a lottery ticket to celebrate ending five months of shielding during the pandemic — and won £500,000. Advertisement Most read in The Sun The biggest jackpot ever to be up for grabs was £66million in January last year, which was won by two lucky ticket holders. Another winner, Karl managed to bag £11million aged just 23 in 1996. The odds of winning the lottery are estimated to be about one in 14million - BUT you've got to be in it to win it. 3 Sandra Devine and her husband Mike won by chance - can you too? Advertisement
