Protest planned to highlight fire safety issues at The Mall’s redevelopment six years after the Grenfell disaster, reports Josh Mellor, Local Democracy Reporter
A campaign group has organised a Grenfell memorial protest at Walthamstow Town Square tomorrow (17th).
Save Our Square is gathering to remember the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster six years after the tragedy claimed 72 lives.
Adrian Stannard, a leading member of the group, said the protest was taking place at the town square to highlight what they claim are fire safety issues at the redevelopment of The Mall, where two high-rise towers are being built.
Save Our Square has campaigned against the development due to the loss of space in the town square and is now raising safety concerns about the towers having only one staircase each.
The government announced earlier this year that it planned to introduce new fire safety regulations requiring two staircases in any new buildings more than 30 metres tall. This has come partly in response to the disaster at Grenfell Tower, which only had one staircase.
Adrian told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Basically, we’re concerned about the fact they’re that not going to put a second staircase in, as you know all new applications above 30metres are going to have a second staircase.
“One or two boroughs have stopped that going ahead and developers are having to put in a new planning application.”
Adrian is encouraging Waltham Forest residents to come and “find out what damage is being done” and to sign a petition for a new playground in the town square. The protest begins at 2pm on Saturday, 17th June.
Socialist Party campaigner Nancy Taaffe said: “Grenfell is a scar on the psychology of the people of London and it is right that we should never forget the terrible events of that night.
“One of the things that makes me angry about the events at Grenfell is, prior to the tragedy a determined group of tenants tried to alert the authorities as to the possible problems that the cladding could cause.
“They were ignored, we heard rumours that some even felt intimated into not speaking out in case their tenancies were questioned.
“The reason we have called this gathering in conjunction with Waltham Forest Trades Council is because we not only want to remember Grenfell and mark it, but we also want to redouble our efforts to make sure nothing like the Grenfell tragedy ever happens again.”
Find out more about the protest on the Save Our Square Facebook page
Visit facebook.com/SaveOurSquareE17?locale=en_GB
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