GONE TO GROUND

Council boss flees his home Police probe after threats

RICH TORY HOUSING CHIEF IN HIDING

made him a target for locals’ outrage since the tragedy 11 days ago, feared to have claimed the lives of 79 people. However the redevelopment was actually initiated by his predecessor.

Yesterday a council spokesman said: “Following threats and vandalism outside his house, which has been reported to the police, he had to relocate his family – at his own expense – during the course of last weekend.

“He remained on duty and was working throughout.”

The councillor, who was first elected in 2006, bought his property close to Grenfell Tower in 2010 for €860,000.

A police spokesman said: “Police were alerted on Saturday, 17 June, to reports of posters with allegedly abusive content displayed outside a residential address in the borough of Kensington.

“Officers who subsequently attended the scene did not find any evidence of posters at the scene, or any evidence of criminal damage at the property.

“Officers were subsequently sent photographs of the alleged posters. The individual property owner concerned at the council continue, including a was given advice by police. Enquiries theory that they put the appearance continue.” over fire safety to appease locals.

In the days following the devastating An online profile on the council’s blaze Mr Feilding-mellen said: “There website quotes Mr Feilding-mellen will obviously have to be important listing “attractiveness” before “safety” questions and we understand in his priorities for housing. the anger.” Yesterday it emerged The

Council chief executive Grenfell Action Group Nicholas Holgate was aired concerns over the forced to quit on fire safety of the building Thursday over the at the beginning of last bungled handling of the year during the redevelopment crisis. works.

On the Friday after the Residents were worried blaze, Mr Feilding-mellen there was only one entry and had been expected to attend exit during the works and the 30th birthday of his stepsister Cllr has warned residents would be Mary Charteris at called in police trapped inside if a fire broke Stanway House in Gloucestershire, out. It is understood officials took home of his stepfather James Charteris, action over their concerns. the Earl of Wemyss and March. But he A council spokesman added apparently told friends he felt it would yesterday: “The decision to refurbish be inappropriate to attend the bash Grenfell Tower was taken before Cllr with the boho set, including Cara Feilding-mellen was Cabinet Member Delevingne and Jaime Winstone, on the for Housing.” 5,000-acre estate. Accusations levelled lewis.panther@trinitymirror.com