London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A government report has revealed it is expected to cost £ 340 million to preserve and maintain the devastations of Grenfell Tower and to “realise the vision” of a memorial.
Why Is the Cost of Grenfell Tower’s Preservation and Memorial Vision So High?
The fire ripped through the tower block in North Kensington on June 14, 2017, claiming 72 lives. For more than seven years the structure remains standing, shrouded in protective wrapping.
An inner paper from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – unveiled by Grenfell Next of Kin – reportedly states £340million has been given to “manage the site safely”, and “deliver the vision” for a “fitting memorial”, the Telegraph says.
The document reportedly states the “life cost” of “safely” managing the site and “realise the vision” of the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission “is £0.34bn”.
Is £340 Million Justifiable for Managing the Grenfell Tower Site and Memorial Plans?
Kimia Zabihyan, a representative for Grenfell Next of Kin, said she was “staggered” by the contents of the manuscript. Nothing is happening,” she stated. “Nothing is going on. It’s just sitting there, standing there covered in this kind of white cover with a big banner at the top and, and, everything is just static. It’s £ 340 million. How do you justify this? You, you’re holding a building standing for £340million that is not getting closure to anyone. It is not allowing anyone, neither the people who live below the building nor the families for whom that site is sacred. It is where their loved ones died…They have not allowed the site to rest.”
How Will the £340 Million Budget for Grenfell Tower’s Memorial Impact the Community?
A representative for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – previously the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – stated: “We remain fully committed to helping the Grenfell community and their long-term recovery.
“While Grenfell Tower and the memorial is an important part of the overall programme, the funding also includes wider work to support support long-term recovery for the Grenfell community. The Government is liable for keeping the Grenfell Tower site secure and we desire to see a fitting and lasting memorial determined by the community.”