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| Inside Housing: trade magazine that warned of high-rise fire risks | Inside Housing: trade magazine that warned of high-rise fire risks |
| (7 months later) | |
| Editor-in-chief says lessons appear not to have been learned after Lakanal House fire eight years ago | |
| Graham Ruddick | |
| Fri 16 Jun 2017 15.52 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 22.33 GMT | |
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| The work of Inside Housing, a trade magazine, has been thrown into the national spotlight by the Grenfell Tower disaster after it proved to be dreadfully prescient. | The work of Inside Housing, a trade magazine, has been thrown into the national spotlight by the Grenfell Tower disaster after it proved to be dreadfully prescient. |
| Since a fire at Lakanal House in Camberwell, south London, eight years ago, the magazine has run a string of stories warning of the fire risk at tower blocks across the country and the lack of regulations to protect residents. | Since a fire at Lakanal House in Camberwell, south London, eight years ago, the magazine has run a string of stories warning of the fire risk at tower blocks across the country and the lack of regulations to protect residents. |
| Its stories have been followed by national publications over the last week and its reporters have appeared on TV programmes including Newsnight. Some of Inside Housing’s articles have proved particularly relevant. | Its stories have been followed by national publications over the last week and its reporters have appeared on TV programmes including Newsnight. Some of Inside Housing’s articles have proved particularly relevant. |
| In 2015 it used a freedom of information request to reveal that just 18 council-owned tower blocks out of 2,925 had sprinklers fitted. After a fire in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, last year, it discovered that London fire brigade had issued a warning to landlords about the fire hazard posed by external panels, or cladding, on tower blocks. | In 2015 it used a freedom of information request to reveal that just 18 council-owned tower blocks out of 2,925 had sprinklers fitted. After a fire in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, last year, it discovered that London fire brigade had issued a warning to landlords about the fire hazard posed by external panels, or cladding, on tower blocks. |
| Since the fire at Grenfell Tower, Inside Housing has revealed details about the history of that block, including that it had not been checked for fire safety for 18 months and that a refurbishment of the property involved temporarily removing fire protection between the floors of the building. | Since the fire at Grenfell Tower, Inside Housing has revealed details about the history of that block, including that it had not been checked for fire safety for 18 months and that a refurbishment of the property involved temporarily removing fire protection between the floors of the building. |
| Emma Maier, the editor-in-chief of Inside Housing, said the publication had struggled to “get traction” with landlords and the authorities with its reporting on the topic, and it was “devastating” to see another fire that appeared to involve similar issues. | Emma Maier, the editor-in-chief of Inside Housing, said the publication had struggled to “get traction” with landlords and the authorities with its reporting on the topic, and it was “devastating” to see another fire that appeared to involve similar issues. |
| “Inside Housing has been reporting on tower block fire safety issues for many years, including an extensive campaign after the Lakanal House tragedy,” she said. | “Inside Housing has been reporting on tower block fire safety issues for many years, including an extensive campaign after the Lakanal House tragedy,” she said. |
| “Almost a year ago there was a fire at a block in Shepherd’s Bush – thankfully no one was killed but they so easily could have been. Since then we have stepped up our reporting. | “Almost a year ago there was a fire at a block in Shepherd’s Bush – thankfully no one was killed but they so easily could have been. Since then we have stepped up our reporting. |
| “To see what seems to be similar issues at Grenfell Tower is devastating. It is clear that many of the lessons have not been learned.” | “To see what seems to be similar issues at Grenfell Tower is devastating. It is clear that many of the lessons have not been learned.” |
| She added: “At times it has been difficult to get traction. The understandable focus on culpability and blame sends organisations into lockdown. It can get in the way of finding out what went wrong and sharing crucial details that could improve safety in the future. Inquiries and criminal proceedings are clearly important, but can take years and delay action.” | She added: “At times it has been difficult to get traction. The understandable focus on culpability and blame sends organisations into lockdown. It can get in the way of finding out what went wrong and sharing crucial details that could improve safety in the future. Inquiries and criminal proceedings are clearly important, but can take years and delay action.” |
| Maier said it was important to take immediate action to establish what had happened at Grenfell Tower. | Maier said it was important to take immediate action to establish what had happened at Grenfell Tower. |
| “The Lakanal inquiry took four years, the court case took eight. The sad paradox is that the desire to gain understanding can make it harder to learn the lessons to prevent further tragedy. We mustn’t fall into that trap – there are some urgent actions needed immediately,” she said. | “The Lakanal inquiry took four years, the court case took eight. The sad paradox is that the desire to gain understanding can make it harder to learn the lessons to prevent further tragedy. We mustn’t fall into that trap – there are some urgent actions needed immediately,” she said. |
| Maier said she was “hugely proud” of the team at Inside Housing. “The national media has been focused mainly on the situation at Grenfell, what might have happened and the need for an inquiry,” she said. “What the trade press can offer is the context. | Maier said she was “hugely proud” of the team at Inside Housing. “The national media has been focused mainly on the situation at Grenfell, what might have happened and the need for an inquiry,” she said. “What the trade press can offer is the context. |
| “Lessons were not learned after Lakanal House. I hope that this time it will be different.” | “Lessons were not learned after Lakanal House. I hope that this time it will be different.” |
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| Grenfell Tower fire | |
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