Task force to take over from inept authority OF CHAOS
lives in the area, said of the relief operation: “These are very uncoordinated [efforts] and my question is, ‘Where is the council?’
“This is something that we cannot do without an enormous level of planning and co-ordination.
“Stuff is going to deteriorate at these centres so they won’t even get to people.
“If the council is going to have to pay people to do that, that is what they are going to have to do.”
Posters with the faces of missing people are pinned up on lampposts and walls around the area.
But a petition calling for the council to resign, which had been pinned to an electricity box, appears to have been removed.
Volunteer Mark Sivarajah, who grew up in the area and returned to help, s aid he was shocked not to see any visible council officials. Speaking outside a collection point beside Latymer Community Church, he said: “Nobody [official] is helping.
“If you look around there’s noone here with a council vest on.
“Everyone is just coming and pitching in. There’s a lot of perishable goods, like food. People are bringing so much stuff.”
On Friday evening, demonstrators stormed the council offices over its handling of the crisis amid concerns renovation work was linked to the rapid spread of the blaze, which killed at least 30 with dozens more deaths feared.
Earlier on Friday, Mrs May was greeted ed with cries of “coward” and nd “shame on you” as she e returned to the site after being criticised for or not meeting victims in the wake of the tragedy.edy.
Speakingg about the growing anger, Mr Sivarajah said: “This is about race, , immigration and austerity. People are very angry. It’s a wider political problem.” In a statement following Friday’s demonstration, Kensington and Chelsea council said: “We are already releasing funds to take care of the immediate needs of those affected as well as other support. “We are absolutely committed to supporting anyone affected in the days, weeks and months ahead. “But if you know of individuals or families who you feel aren’t getting help, then please let us know so we can get help to them as q quicklyy as p possible.” There was furth further criticism of counc council bosses after it wasw revealed theyth gave the green light for a refurbish refurbishment of their headquartershead – at a cost of more than £20mil £20million. The sums – splashed out to bring Kensingt Kensington Town Ha Hall up to date – is double the amount spent on refurbishing Grenfell Tower.
And residents are demanding to know why the authority prioritised its own refit ahead of making sure their homes were safe.
Vienna Israel, 35, whose godfather Raymond Bernard is missing and feared dead, said: “That makes me really angry, but it doesn’t surprise me they spent money on their own building while refusing to spend money on Grenfell Tower to make it safe.
“They didn’t value the lives of people like my godfather.
“They wanted to get rid of them all from this area.”
The seven-year spending plan was waved through by council bosses in 2009.
Although a £20million figure was reported at the time, sources close to the project say the final bill would have come in at between £25million and £27million
The council also has plans for more lavish spending on Chelsea Town Hall – a listed building.