Grenfell Tower must mark a turning point for UK housing – community protest called for Saturday 18 June, 12 noon.
In response to the horror at Grenfell Tower, Grenfell Action Group and Radical Housing Network have called a protest at Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC) Town Hall this Saturday.
Radical Housing Network is a London-wide alliance of grassroots housing campaigns of which Grenfell Action Group are a member. The group are calling on estate campaigners, community groups and tenants from across London to join Saturday’s protest to demand #Justice4Grenfell.
Radical Housing Network and Grenfell Action Group are demanding:
– An independent Inquest and a Public Inquiry, so that no stone be left unturned in investigating what led to this horrific event, and tenants are able to have a voice
– That public authorities be held to account and criminal proceedings brought against all those responsible.
– That all Grenfell residents be offered long-term and affordable housing in their local area – to meet this need, RBKC should buy local private property and turn it into council housing.
– That Grenfell Tower is fully rebuilt and not a single unit of social housing is lost – this must not be an opportunity to privatise homes or for developers to make a profit.
A spokesperson from Radical Housing Network said:
“We demand an inquest and a public inquiry into the Grenfell disaster, so that no stone be left unturned in bringing those responsible to account, and that criminal proceedings are brought.
“For decades, council housing has been run into the ground and council tenants treated with contempt. Now it’s time to go into reverse gear – this has to be a turning point for UK housing.
“The Grenfell community must be allowed to heal together and residents must not be separated from their neighbours. If there is not enough social housing to house residents locally, the council should buy private property and turn this into council housing, rather than lining the pockets of private landlords.
“The UK housing system treats those at the bottom with contempt. Those on the lowest incomes suffer substandard, dangerous housing and overcrowding – whoever the landlord is. Tenants have few rights or say in their housing, whether they live on a council estate or rent privately.
“The UK urgently needs to rebuild its stock of decent, affordable, safe social housing.
“We need a housing system that puts people’s lives ahead of profit.”
Justice for Grenfell protest, Saturday 18 June, 12 noon – 2pm at RBKC Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 7NX, called by Grenfell Action Group and Radical Housing Network
Press contact:
Joe Beswick – 07873557040
Harriet Vickers – 07817724556
Radical Housing Network
info [at] radicalhousingnetwork [dot] org
http://radicalhousingnetwork.org/
Radical Housing Network http://radicalhousingnetwork.org/grenfell-tower-must-mark-a-turning-point-for-uk-housing/
