On land opposite Thorn and Spruce Court in Pendleton, people gathered this evening to remember the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster, while also venting anger over the state of Salford blocks still wrapped in the dangerous cladding.
The event began with the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, paying homage to those who died at Grenfell...
"We're here to show our solidarity with the people of Grenfell, with those who died and those who will for the rest of their lives carry the physical and mental scars of what happened to them when their towerblock went up in flames" he said.
"Tonight we should also pledge ourselves to create a better society" he added "...The people who died at Grenfell were from a very wide range of backgrounds, the very sort of diversity that I hope we all want to see...Every human being is a brother or sister, every human being has something to give to us, and we should be there for them."
The Bishop, who is also a volunteer at a housing association in Wythenshawe, recounted how it had removed cladding from its one block that had the material within three days of Grenfell...
"We wanted to be absolutely sure that our tenants had confidence that we put their wellbeing and health and safety at the very, very top of the list" he explained...
...And then, looking over at the blocks managed by Pendleton Together and owned by Salford City Council, added "Where we are tonight we can see that this is a live issue today and let's hope that we can make a Salford where everybody has a safe and secure place to live in."
Salford and Eccles MP, Rebecca Long-Bailey, told of her own experiences meeting the relatives of those who died at Grenfell, before adding... "I don't want to get political tonight because I know the important message is to remember and honour those who suffered in that horrific event...but the fact is that it shouldn't have happened...
"People knew in 2009 after the Lakanal House fire of the risks involved in high towerblocks" she explained "The recommendations in the coroner's report were that, in any buildings over a certain height, sprinklers should be retrofitted and that the building regulation system wasn't fit for purpose and should be reviewed and amended. Yet in 2018 nothing has happened.
"We got £400million announced in May this year, nearly a year after the event itself, dedicated to removing cladding off buildings but no details about retrofitting sprinklers" she added "We've got to wait for the outcome of the Hackett review into what happens with building regulations but we've got to remember that the Government has a duty of care to provide the safest place possible for our communities to live in, whether that's in social rented accommodation or private accommodation...
"One of the staggering facts is that we know there's over three hundred towerblocks across the country in the social rented sector but we've no idea how many private rented blocks there are, and when we've asked Government for details they don't even have a strategy for finding out where the private rented bocks are" she said
"So it's up to us to remember the horrific events today but it's also up to us, and myself and all politicians and community members, to fight the Government, because we demand action on this" she insisted
"We don't want it to be another year before anything's ironed out and we get the regulations and investment and funding that we need, because tonight there will be people sleeping in Salford worrying themselves sick...and I know a few people are here today wondering whether they're safe or not. And that's not good enough in today's society" she concluded.
The Salford MP's speech was followed by Hazards' Hilda Palmer reading out the names of the 72 people who died in the fire, follow by a 72 second silence.
John Clegg, from Manchester Trades Council, told of a new campaigning housing solicitor currently in place at the Greater Manchester Law Centre and a host of organisations that have sprung up recently pushing the issue of housing up the agenda.
Paul Kelly, from Salford Trades Council, concluded the event with a passionate speech urging immediate action in Salford...
Pointing to the Salford Council blocks across the road, he said "I still see cladding on that block of flats there...I don't want to cast aspersions about why it's there, and I don't care what rules you quote but it's got to come off, and it's got to come off sharpish, starting tomorrow.
"Let's see the money and let's see the workers pulling it down because if I lived in that block I'd be terrified; in fact I'd get a claw hammer and pull it off myself" he added "We're going to have to take direct action. It's a sombre occasion but it is a simple message – 'Treat our people with dignity and respect and get that cladding off now'...
To hear more Salford voices and opinions on the state of the cladded blocks, see previous Salford Star article – click here
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