Delay for Grenfell memorial and decision on tower’s future ‘deeply traumatising’

Plans for a Grenfell memorial must be accelerated, an advocate for the victims’ families has said, describing the wait as “punishing” for the community.

Six years on from the deadly tragedy, there is no memorial at the site of the tower in North Kensington and no decision has been made on the future of the tower.

The independent Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission is “still in the process of gathering the views of bereaved families, survivors and local residents” ahead of publishing their final report on a memorial this autumn, the Government has said.

The commission includes local community and bereaved family representatives and is supported by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

But an advocate for bereaved families, Kimia Zabihyan, said the delay has been “deeply traumatising” for local residents and victims’ families.

“It’s just shocking, and the money that’s been wasted is extraordinary.

“I think a decision could have been made about the memorial years ago, had the [commission] actually executed their consultation in a more intelligent way.”

Ms Zabihyan said victims’ families want part of Grenfell tower preserved “so the height of it can be retained and people can see it from all around”, and this was suggested to the Commission and DLUHC more than two years ago.

“For people who lost their loved ones in the fire, that building is essential where they died, and is a very sacred place and it’s important to preserve as much of it as possible,” Ms Zabihyan said.

She claimed the Commission’s methodology has been “meandering” and money has been wasted on wrapping the Grenfell tower over the last six years.

“The cost of that has been both financial and emotional because it has meant there has been no closure. For the community it’s deeply traumatising having the building there.

”She said families are hopeful progress will be made following the appointment of Lord Paul Boateng as the memorial commission’s new co-chair in January.

A DLUHC spokesperson said: “ Any decision must be approached sensitively and in a way that people feel as comfortable as possible with.“The Government is committed to supporting the independent Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission in the creation of a fitting and lasting memorial.”