Sadiq Khan: We can't play Russian roulette with fire safety
The London mayor is supporting Camden Council's decision to evacuate 3,000 residents from towers in the wake of the Grenfell fire.
Sunday 25 June 2017 14:57, UK
London's mayor has backed a decision to evacuate tower blocks, insisting "you can't play Russian roulette with people's safety".
Sadiq Khan supported the move by Camden Council to move some 3,000 people out of their north London high-rise homes due to fire safety fears in the wake of the tragedy.
The buildings are among 34 to have been deemed unsafe across the UK after emergency tests were carried out following the west London fire, which killed at least 79.
All samples of cladding sent in from tower blocks around the country , the Government has admitted.
The tests were conducted as part of a round-the-clock programme set up to check 100 samples a day.
The 34 buildings affected are from 17 local authority areas, including the city of Manchester, Camden, Plymouth, Hounslow, Portsmouth, Barnet and Brent.
Along with multiple other fire safety failures, the alert caused Camden Council to order residents out of four tower blocks on Friday night - although around 20 households are still refusing to leave the Chalcots Estate.
Mr Khan insisted the council had "done the right thing" despite the "huge nuisance" for residents of the 600 flats
The towers were refurbished by Rydon - the same company involved in the multimillion pound refit of Grenfell Tower.
The mayor said: "Look, you've got to err on the side of caution. You can't play Russian roulette with people's safety.
"They've received the advice from the experts and they've acted on the advice."
He added: "What can't be acceptable is, when a council knows a building's unsafe, for the council to still allow people to occupy those buildings."
Camden Council leader Georgia Gould said her staff would be reiterating to residents "they must leave" in order for the buildings to be made safe, in work expected to last between two to four weeks.
She said: "By remaining in the blocks these residents risk delaying the work that is required and that we are undertaking to make these homes safe.
"It is not safe to remain in these blocks and our residents' safety will continue to be the council's number one priority."
Amid rising tensions, residents remaining in the Taplow, Dorney, Bray and Burnham towers claimed they are being intimidated by security guards.
Mandy Ryan, who shares her 22nd-floor flat in Dorney with her disabled son, said: "I was bullied this morning trying to leave the building. He (the security guard) stood in front of the door and guys surrounded him and he said 'we need to know who you are'."
She added: "I was so scared, he got so close to me - I could feel his breath on my face.
"We are not the villains here, we are the victims. We are not trying to impede any work whatsoever, we just want suitable accommodation."
Ms Ryan revealed she had been offered alternative accommodation in a neighbouring London borough but she was "appalled" at the state of disrepair.
She has since been told she can stay in a nearby hotel that will accept her two dogs.
Sayed Meah, 34, who has lived in Burnham since he was born, won't leave his eighth-floor flat until a care company that assists him in looking after his 78-year-old mother agrees to work at a new location.
Brent and Portsmouth councils have deemed an evacuation of their properties unnecessary.