Tower cladding faces ban after Grenfell outcry
A BAN on fitting tower blocks with flammable cladding will be considered by the Government as part of moves to ensure a Grenfell tragedy never happens again.
Housing Secretary James Brokenshire unveiled the review yesterday after an independent inquiry was branded a “betrayal and a whitewash” for not demanding a ban.
The cladding is blamed for the fire that killed 71 people in London in June.
An independent report on reforming building regulations was published yesterday by Dame Judith Hackitt, a former chair of the Health and Safety Executive. She insisted a ban on flammable cladding would not be enough on its own to prevent future tragedies.
“If people attach too much reliance upon banning activities and particular materials, it will create a false sense of security,” she told the Commons’ housing and local government committee.
“Banning things is no guarantee that people aren’t going to use them. That’s the real world.”
Instead she proposes making it much clearer who is responsible for building safety. She also wants a watchdog with “real teeth” to enforce the rules. But MPs demanded an immediate ban on flammable cladding.
Labour shadow housing secretary John Healey told Mr Brokenshire: “Don’t consult on it, do it. We owe it to the Grenfell residents, and we owe it to residents living today in other tower blocks with the same Grenfell-style cladding.”
Tory Mark Prisk also demanded a ban, saying: “Anything less will not do.”
On the BBC, Grenfell’s local Labour MP Emma Dent Coad, asked: “Why are we consulting again? There are people across the country who are afraid to go to sleep. This is not an abstract issue.”
Labour’s David Lammy, who lost a friend in Grenfell, called Dame Judith’s report as “a betrayal and a whitewash”.
Shahin Sadafi, of the Grenfell United campaign group, welcomed the Government’s review: “But we are disappointed that they haven’t just banned this dangerous material, today.”
Lord Porter, chairman of the Local Government Association of councils, called for an immediate temporary ban.
The Royal Institute of British Architects called Dame Judith’s review “a major missed opportunity” to make buildings safer.