Victim of Grenfell blaze still being charged rent
Casualty airlifted to hospital after A9 crash
A WOMAN who fled the Grenfell Tower fire is still having rent deducted for her wrecked flat by the council, a victims group has claimed.
Yvette Williams, a coordinator for Justice 4 Grenfell, said the survivor made the discovery when she obtained a new bank card and saw her statement.
The claim came as the UK Government last night said it will keep a “close eye” on Kensington and Chelsea council as pressure built for the troubled authority to be taken over by commissioners.
Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, was speaking after resignations by the council leader and deputy leader under intense criticism of how the Grenfell Tower tragedy was handled.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wants commissioners to take over the day-to-day running of affairs in the west London borough.
Mr Javid said: “It is right the council leader stepped down given the initial response to the Grenfell tragedy.
“The process to select his successor will be independent of government, but we will be keeping a close eye on the situation. If we need to take further action, we won’t hesitate to do so.”
Miss Williams, of Justice 4 Grenfell, explained how one resident had rent deducted from her bank account since the fire.
She said: “She came to me and said she had just got her bank card and that she went and looked at her bank statement and they had deducted rent for Grenfell Tower.
“It is, you would think, a simple process (to fix) as it can be done on a computer.
“It is quite clear that whatever is supposed to be happening down there isn’t happening – it is about what checks and balances are in place there.
“Of course she is distressed, we have all seen the tower and what it looks like, everyone is living there.”
Responding, Tory Kensington and Chelsea councillor Catherine Faulks , said: “I’m very sorry to hear that and I can understand that’s very distressing.”
Asked why the council had not addressed such an “obvious” issue, Miss Faulks replied: “Oh come on, I’m not saying it’s a tiny thing, for them it’s a huge thing and it’s very upsetting. But the council are in the process of trying to house 400 people.
“They have got people in hotels, they have assigned a social worker for every single family, who is triaging them into a wraparound service.”
Miss Faulks also claimed protesters who stormed Kensington Town Hall days after the fire demanding justice for victims “weren’t the local community” but “people who like doing that sort of thing”.