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A big fire in a tower block in Latimer Road just been reported on 5live.Eyewitness says there are people trapped on the upper floors. I hope everyone gets out safely.
"The organisation responsible for maintenance and safety at the social housing block is the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO). But the organisation’s name is deceptive — far from being a tenant-run company, the ‘TMO’ is actually a private company — an aloof ivory tower that sits far above the actual residents, and who ‘manage’ 10,000 properties… with handsome salaries and fees for selected executives and contractors. Although Grenfell Tower is owned by the Borough Council of Kensington and Chelsea, the management of the tower block is subcontracted out to the TMO. Critics of the public-private partnership, or PPP, management hand-off claim that the quasi-privatised TMO arrangement is rife with corruption, including sweetheart deals to contractors. It also enables connected board members to fleece poor residents while taking home enormous sums of money for doing little if anything for it. Last year, the KCTMO was paid £11million ($14 million) in taxpayer money to manage Grenfell Tower. According to the Mail Online, four senior members of TMO took £650,000 between them last year."
Wasn't going to post for a while but this is very salient.
I used to work with Robert Black the CEO of the TMO. We used to run homeless shelters from December to March. He was an extremely decent and capable man and Manager.
The contracting out isn't unusual. What is though is too a private Ltd Co and not a registered Housing Association or often also a Charity. Like Nottinghill Housing Trust for examle. They are governed by very different and strict laws from memory. So it is a bit odd that a housing specialist is not a Registered Housing Association or Charity. The Limited liability is particularly salient as well. The Council would not have to relinquish ownership, just hand its management to a Housing Assocition TMO. This doesn't make any sense.
"The organisation responsible for maintenance and safety at the social housing block is the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO). But the organisation’s name is deceptive — far from being a tenant-run company, the ‘TMO’ is actually a private company — an aloof ivory tower that sits far above the actual residents, and who ‘manage’ 10,000 properties… with handsome salaries and fees for selected executives and contractors. Although Grenfell Tower is owned by the Borough Council of Kensington and Chelsea, the management of the tower block is subcontracted out to the TMO. Critics of the public-private partnership, or PPP, management hand-off claim that the quasi-privatised TMO arrangement is rife with corruption, including sweetheart deals to contractors. It also enables connected board members to fleece poor residents while taking home enormous sums of money for doing little if anything for it. Last year, the KCTMO was paid £11million ($14 million) in taxpayer money to manage Grenfell Tower. According to the Mail Online, four senior members of TMO took £650,000 between them last year."
Boils down to the essential question of whether we want a society that puts money first or people first. If it's the former, and we go down the 'bonfire of regulations' route then we'll end up as a third world country where a tiny percentage of the population has all the money and power and everybody else is a second class citizen.
Boils down to the essential question of whether we want a society that puts money first or people first. If it's the former, and we go down the 'bonfire of regulations' route then we'll end up as a third world country where a tiny percentage of the population has all the money and power and everybody else is a second class citizen.
Indeed - but not just the UK. The world's current trajectory is towards some kind of heavily bordered 'life-boat capitalism'.
Politics over the past few years has been incredible, and none more so than at this current moment. The Tories are completely paralysed by on the one hand the prospect of a leadership contest right as Brexit negotiations are about to begin, but on the other the government falling apart by the day as a resurgent left-wing Labour party waits in the wings.
Politics over the past few years has been incredible, and none more so than at this current moment. The Tories are completely paralysed by on the one hand the prospect of a leadership contest right as Brexit negotiations are about to begin, but on the other the government falling apart by the day as a resurgent left-wing Labour party waits in the wings.
[Post edited 16 Jun 2017 17:57]
It's the old Chinese curse...we are certainly living in interesting times.
The lifts haven't worked, the emergency lights haven't worked, and then as it turns out the fire alarms didn't work.
But there was money for an external refurb and more flats packed into the lower floors.
DannytheR "The lift haven't worked....." BOOM! "The lifts haven't worked, the emergency lights haven't worked, and then as it turns out the fire alarms didn't work." ~ BOOM! ~ sounds like a Barrington Levy tune to me,Dan me old leftie comrade china ~
'I'm 18 with a bullet.Got my finger on the trigger,I'm gonna pull it.."
Love,Peace and Fook Chelski!
More like 20StoneOfHoop now.
Let's face it I'm not getting any thinner.
Pass the cake and pies please.
And promised that those made homeless by the fire will be rehoused within three weeks. They'll also get all transportation costs paid for their children to attend the same schools and all funeral costs will be paid by the Govt.
And promised that those made homeless by the fire will be rehoused within three weeks. They'll also get all transportation costs paid for their children to attend the same schools and all funeral costs will be paid by the Govt.
My own thought back on the first day was this needs a disaster fund from the government that very day.
Now the criticism will continue.... Can't do right for doing wrong atm
She is being the same way she was in the GE robotic and a politician in her interviews not answering anything much and coming over stiff, she avoids the nitty gritty, just reads the script.
I don't know who they can get to replace her Boris is getting blamed for this too.
Let Corbyn take over, f*** up the economy for 4 years revert back to normal. Bored of the anti Tory crap now. This country is heading for economic melt down.
Let Corbyn take over, f*** up the economy for 4 years revert back to normal. Bored of the anti Tory crap now. This country is heading for economic melt down.
Not even going to vote next time round.
Bored of the anti Tory crap? Wow.
The anti Tory rant has only just started and rightly so.
Good article on this:
Grenfell Tower will forever stand as a rebuke to the right.
"You can ignore those who say it’s wrong, or too soon, to politicise Grenfell Tower. That’s always the refrain of those who understand that a raw moment such as this brings great clarity, suddenly exposing in vivid colour a reality that, for many, may have been abstract. Such people want the moment to pass, for the national gaze to move on, so that they can return to business as usual. Which is why now is exactly the time to talk about what this blaze has illuminated.
Make no mistake, the other side has not hesitated to press its agendas. “Were green targets to blame for fire tragedy?” asked the Daily Mail on its front page. “Did EU regulation mean deadly cladding was used on Grenfell Tower?” inquired the Express. (Answer: no, that same cladding is banned in Germany.)"
The anti Tory rant has only just started and rightly so.
Good article on this:
Grenfell Tower will forever stand as a rebuke to the right.
"You can ignore those who say it’s wrong, or too soon, to politicise Grenfell Tower. That’s always the refrain of those who understand that a raw moment such as this brings great clarity, suddenly exposing in vivid colour a reality that, for many, may have been abstract. Such people want the moment to pass, for the national gaze to move on, so that they can return to business as usual. Which is why now is exactly the time to talk about what this blaze has illuminated.
Make no mistake, the other side has not hesitated to press its agendas. “Were green targets to blame for fire tragedy?” asked the Daily Mail on its front page. “Did EU regulation mean deadly cladding was used on Grenfell Tower?” inquired the Express. (Answer: no, that same cladding is banned in Germany.)"
I don't read left wing propoganda... Like many lefty's won't read the mail.
Upon reflection, Not the right time for a political debate imo. So I'll respectfully withdraw from this thread and send my sympathy to those who are affected.
So tragically sad that the real issues, needs and what should come out of this will all be lost, muffled and spun to suit political agendas
I'll try not to get into that.... However I can't see myself chucking my weight behind Mr Mustafa Almansur who I am informed is currently a leading light in the Grenfell Demonstration Organisation. A charming man.
I am sure those "sickened and appalled" at the crazy far right who jump on grooming cases etc to push their vile filth will be just as quick to condemn the mental marxists latching onto tragedy for their own spin.
Jesus Christ, they're not even halfway through removing bodies FFS, what is up with people?
Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way–in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only
In Paris, the hated and abusive Marquis St. Evrémonde orders his carriage driven recklessly fast through the crowded streets, hitting and killing the child of a peasant, Gaspard. The Marquis throws a coin to Gaspard to compensate him for his loss, and Defarge comforts the distraught father, having observed the incident. As the Marquis's coach drives off, the coin is flung back into his coach by an unknown hand, enraging the Marquis.
So tragically sad that the real issues, needs and what should come out of this will all be lost, muffled and spun to suit political agendas
I'll try not to get into that.... However I can't see myself chucking my weight behind Mr Mustafa Almansur who I am informed is currently a leading light in the Grenfell Demonstration Organisation. A charming man.
I am sure those "sickened and appalled" at the crazy far right who jump on grooming cases etc to push their vile filth will be just as quick to condemn the mental marxists latching onto tragedy for their own spin.
Jesus Christ, they're not even halfway through removing bodies FFS, what is up with people?
DannytheR "The lift haven't worked....." BOOM! "The lifts haven't worked, the emergency lights haven't worked, and then as it turns out the fire alarms didn't work." ~ BOOM! ~ sounds like a Barrington Levy tune to me,Dan me old leftie comrade china ~
Nicely done. Haven't heard that in a looong time.
Just had a bittersweet moment thinking about coming out of Grove tube with Dub Vendor bang next door and hearing this even as you turned down Lancaster Road.
Radicals and agenda mongerers jumping on one of the most monumental modern day losses of life in London I think I've ever known.
I'm so looking forward to the new season when you show more passion and anger over losing a football match and vent you spleen of rich owners ruining the club
I'm so looking forward to the new season when you show more passion and anger over losing a football match and vent you spleen of rich owners ruining the club
[Post edited 16 Jun 2017 23:42]
Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal
Sorry to be a bore on this and I'd again say I'm not an expert.
Once a level of combustion is reached almost all cladding materials will burn - the standards spoken about are based on laboratory tests and that is key. Likewise uPVC windows. I still think the seat of the fire will tell a story here - once that fire started the orignal source was ferocious and the change reaction followed.
It is indisputable that other cladding would have meant a slower spread of flame - but in laboratory tests.
Here one needs to appreciate the cavity behind is a wind tunnel adding an updraft of oxygen and feeding the fire. It's a balmy June evening, peoples windows above are open, they have curtains, they have blinds, they have gas supplies and then, bingo, you've got a perfect storm with flames jumping property to property within this cavity. The first fault therefore lies with the design and potentially the installer / checkers IF fire breaks in the cavity weren't fitted / properly - without sight of drawings, specs, as fited etc
It has always amazed me over the last 10 years or so just how much importance has been attached to so called "green buildings". I appreciate the environment needs protecting etc but IMHO a lot of it is simply allowing materials suppliers to hike costs and generating refurbishment work etc. The priorities for me should Life Safety and Accessability for the impaired - then start looking at carbon neutral and green stuff.
For now this is catagorised as a tragic accident. An what is the definition of an accident? "It is a preventable incident". Say no more......
The issue is that these flats are built to behave as fire contained boxes, i.e. if a fire breaks out in one flat, it incinerates that flat but does no escape. Look at what happened in the Bush Green flats a few months back. Only a few flats suffered, and the reason the flames spread from one to another is because the flames licked up on the outside of the building from one open window to another. The fire doesn't spread from one flat to another. The apparent reason the fire spread in such a manner this time, is because this non-flame-retardant went up like a box of matches, and connected all the flats. Absolutely horrific. I was down at the protests and welfare centres today and the fury is palpable. It is the community that has come together so well, with no leadership from the council or local authority, no guidance, no oversight. Pure people's initiatives keeping others alive. The government and local authority should be embarrassed about the lack of support provided.
So tragically sad that the real issues, needs and what should come out of this will all be lost, muffled and spun to suit political agendas
I'll try not to get into that.... However I can't see myself chucking my weight behind Mr Mustafa Almansur who I am informed is currently a leading light in the Grenfell Demonstration Organisation. A charming man.
I am sure those "sickened and appalled" at the crazy far right who jump on grooming cases etc to push their vile filth will be just as quick to condemn the mental marxists latching onto tragedy for their own spin.
Jesus Christ, they're not even halfway through removing bodies FFS, what is up with people?
This wasn't a natural disaster. If you don't think there's anything political here you need to give your head a wobble.
1
Latimer Road (n/t) on 04:37 - Jun 17 with 2829 views
So tragically sad that the real issues, needs and what should come out of this will all be lost, muffled and spun to suit political agendas
I'll try not to get into that.... However I can't see myself chucking my weight behind Mr Mustafa Almansur who I am informed is currently a leading light in the Grenfell Demonstration Organisation. A charming man.
I am sure those "sickened and appalled" at the crazy far right who jump on grooming cases etc to push their vile filth will be just as quick to condemn the mental marxists latching onto tragedy for their own spin.
Jesus Christ, they're not even halfway through removing bodies FFS, what is up with people?
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