‘Government is failing us with cladding removal help’

COUNCIL CHIEF BLASTS ‘CONTRADICTORY ADVICE’

THE council boss in charge of Greater Manchester’s response to the Grenfell Tower disaster has slammed the government for issuing ‘contradictory’ advice and failing to provide clarity or leadership.

Salford mayor Paul Dennett, who is heading up the region’s taskforce on the issue – and will ultimately report into the Grenfell Inquiry – said two conflicting pieces of guidance were issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in a few days.

One set, issued on June 22, said blocks should remove aluminium cladding as an interim measure, although those protected by sprinkler systems might not need to do so.

A string of tower blocks across Salford and elsewhere had already begun to remove their cladding as a result of the government’s advice.

But on June 30, the government issued new guidance suggesting aluminium cladding might in fact be safe following further testing.

Social landlord Salix has now halted the stripping process – due to what it called the ‘unclear’ advice.

“The advice from government has been in my opinion contradictory,” said Mr Dennett.

“Clearly one minute they are saying remove the cladding – and if you have got sprinklers systems you might not need to remove it. And now they are saying potentially aluminium composite material (ACM) could be safe following further testing.

“The government are clearly all over the shop and what we need is clear leadership about how we are moving forward.

“At the moment we are getting none of that whatsoever.”

Mr Dennett said that at this week’s Local Government Association conference secretary of state for communities and local government Sajid Javid had failed to show any leadership or ‘operational clarity’ on the fall-out from Grenfell, which has seen scores of blocks across Greater Manchester stripped.

The DCLG denied any lack of clarity.

A spokesman said: “The government advice is clear – any tall building where ACM cladding has been identified will have a fire risk assessment by the Fire and Rescue Service. Landlords, in conjunction with fire services, will then take decisions on building safety.”