UK

Residents storm out of opening of the Grenfell Tower inquiry

Survivors from the June disaster and other local residents branded the process a "whitewash"
Survivors from the June disaster and other local residents branded the process a "whitewash" Survivors from the June disaster and other local residents branded the process a "whitewash"

RESIDENTS in North Kensington stormed out of a community building in protest as the opening of the Grenfell Tower inquiry was shown on screens in the shadow of the charred building.

Survivors from the disaster and other local residents branded the process a "whitewash" as Sir Martin Moore-Bick gave his opening address, which was live streamed into Notting Hill Methodist Church on Thursday.

Around 30 members of the local community gathered to watch the opening unfold, some leaving angrily before its conclusion, after Sir Martin said he would not be including residents on the inquiry assessment team.

One upset resident, who wished not to be named, said: "This is a whitewash, and that's all it will be."

Some people shook their heads on leaving the church and walked quickly away from the building, which is still adorned with flowers, hand-made signs and candles in memory of those lost in the tragedy on June 14.

Michael Mansfield QC, after the first preliminary hearing in the Grenfell Tower public inquiry, at the Connaught Rooms in central London PICTURE : Victoria Jones/PA
Michael Mansfield QC, after the first preliminary hearing in the Grenfell Tower public inquiry, at the Connaught Rooms in central London PICTURE : Victoria Jones/PA Michael Mansfield QC, after the first preliminary hearing in the Grenfell Tower public inquiry, at the Connaught Rooms in central London PICTURE : Victoria Jones/PA

Kerdesan Gallardo, who lives close to the church and lost friends in the disaster, sat outside the church for the duration and angrily denounced the address being beamed to residents inside.

"We have lost a lot," she said.

"My concern is Kensington and Chelsea council - what they've done wrong is the people who cannot walk distances or steps, they should be put in a nice block of flats.

"Why is this happening? If Kensington and Chelsea are the housing providers, then they have to meet peoples' needs."

Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chairman of the Grenfell public inquiry arrives at the High Court in London to deliver his opening statement in the first public hearing of the contentious probe PICTURE: Stefan Rousseau/PA
Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chairman of the Grenfell public inquiry arrives at the High Court in London to deliver his opening statement in the first public hearing of the contentious probe PICTURE: Stefan Rousseau/PA Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chairman of the Grenfell public inquiry arrives at the High Court in London to deliver his opening statement in the first public hearing of the contentious probe PICTURE: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Chairman of the local Bramley House Residents Association, Samia Badani, said she agreed that the process looked as if it would become watered-down.

She said: "He's done little to convince us otherwise.

"He could have just made a gesture and said, okay, we will listen to what the people affected want."

Ms Badani, who walked out of the address in protest, said the inquiry had shown little evidence that it understood the concerns of residents.

She said: "We're concerned about the conduct of this public inquiry and the lack of understanding of what the issues are and the reasons that were given for not getting residents on the panel."

She added: "I haven't seen any evidence that the experts, the assessors have any knowledge of how the community works, and what the issues are, and what issues people are having with the local authority."

Some residents, looking visibly shaken, declined to speak after the opening speeches were broadcast, and said they needed "time to process" what they had heard.

Yvette Williams, a coordinator for Justice 4 Grenfell, after the first preliminary hearing in the Grenfell Tower public inquiry, at the Connaught Rooms, London PICTURE: Victoria Jones/PA
Yvette Williams, a coordinator for Justice 4 Grenfell, after the first preliminary hearing in the Grenfell Tower public inquiry, at the Connaught Rooms, London PICTURE: Victoria Jones/PA Yvette Williams, a coordinator for Justice 4 Grenfell, after the first preliminary hearing in the Grenfell Tower public inquiry, at the Connaught Rooms, London PICTURE: Victoria Jones/PA

Mouna Elogbani, who lived on the 11th floor of the tower, said she was not hopeful for the future of the inquiry.

She said: "I still think that he's putting limitations on what things he's going to do, like appointing assessors.

"There is still not a broad scope - I don't feel he's going to take into consideration (a method) that puts the survivors' concerns forward."

As the small huddle of residents dispersed, some paused to look once more at the tributes left on the church railings close by.

Coinciding with the three-month anniversary of the disaster, residents will once again meet in the area later on Thursday to march in commemoration of former residents who died in the blaze.