London: ‘Councils didn’t say our tower blocks may collapse’

A waking watch was introduced but about 200 tenants were eventually moved out by Southwark Council, including Danielle and her family.

She said that prior to this, residents had long been documenting problems in a residents’ action group, such as gaps big enough to fit a hand through in the  walls and ceilings of many flats.

“We had concerns for many year about the  safety of these blocks  and how they would perform in a fire, and the council never took our concerns seriously,” Ms Gregory claimed.

“After Grenfell happened, they started listening to us.”

But the council continued to use the blocks to house those who had been living in emergency accommodation and they too complained of cracks, cold, water leaks, electrical issues and damp.