This week Jon Cruddas MP for Dagenham and Rainham has co-signed a letter calling for better fire safety and to ensure all tower blocks are liveable. The full text of the letter can be found HERE. In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire last June, the government said "we cannot and will not ask people to live in unsafe homes" however not enough has been done for residents of tower blocks.
Since the government's commitment to remove flammable cladding from tower blocks only 7 of the 300 buildings have been reclad, however 103 are currently undergoing remediation. In private blocks, it is alleged that tenants have been told to fund the removal of the cladding themselves. At a time when leaseholders often struggle to meet the most basic of household bills, this request from the government is unacceptable. Not only are the commitments from the government not being met but they are simply not adequate. The letter calls on the government to fully fund the replacement of cladding on all social housing and cover the initial costs for private blocks and student accommodation.
Jon Cruddas MP for Dagenham and Rainham said "I'm supporting this letter as it is imperative that we keep the pressure on government to do all they can to ensure that tragedies such as Grenfell Tower never happen again."
The letter calls on the government to implement 10 principles for how funding from the government will be executed. From demanding that "Immediate safe, good, permanent housing must be offered in the area of their choice for Grenfell survivors; no deportations of affected individuals; criminal charges against those responsible for the fire." Ensuring that justice is served on those responsible for the Grenfell Tower fire, to measures such as "there must be a clear, quick and effective route for residents' voices to be heard and listened to, and responsibility and accountability must rest with clearly identifiable senior individuals." Guaranteeing that resident's concerns will be never be neglected again.
Jon concluded "So far two of the blocks that did not meet regulations in the Dagenham part of my constituency have been reclad and brought up to standard. However, there are still hundreds of buildings across the country where no attempt to make them safe has been made. It isn't good enough and the government needs to do more."
You can read the letter in full HERE