A contractor that participated in the renovation of Grenfell Tower prior to the tragic fire in 2017 is pursuing a legal challenge against a prohibition imposed by Kensington and Chelsea Council (RBKC).
This legal action follows RBKC’s decision in November to prolong the ban on contractors tied to the tower’s refurbishment, which includes Kingspan, Celotex, Arconic, and Rydon, with additional firms like Siderise Insulation being included later.
Siderise has asserted that the council’s ruling lacks basis or justification, claiming its products do not conform to RBKC’s established criteria for the ban.
In response, a spokesperson for RBKC reaffirmed the council’s commitment to its decision.
Emma O’Connor, who managed to escape in a lift from the 20th floor with her partner during the fire, expressed her shock upon learning about Siderise Insulation’s legal action.
“My initial reaction was disbelief; I couldn’t believe they would take such a step. We never sought to have our lives upended by this incident. It’s truly unbelievable,” she shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Siderise was responsible for producing some of the cavity barriers that were installed during the tower’s refurbishment between 2015 and 2016.
Nevertheless, the company initiated judicial review proceedings against the council, contending that the prohibition on its products was “unjustified,” as they allegedly did not meet the criteria set by the council for the ban.
A representative from Siderise stated: “While our products were utilized in the Grenfell renovation, the report from the Grenfell Inquiry distinctly clarifies that neither Siderise nor its products played a role in the devastating fire or its propagation. There is no indication that Siderise was not forthcoming during the inquiry, rendering this exclusion baseless.
“Hence, the decision taken by RBKC is devoid of validation or justification.
“Siderise is committed to safeguarding its reputation as a British manufacturer whose products are distributed worldwide.”
The Phase 2 report of the Grenfell Inquiry found no evidence indicating that Siderise acted dishonestly; however, it did express concerns regarding certain elements in the company’s marketing materials.
The inquiry also noted that Siderise had supplied cavity barriers for applications that exceeded the dimensions for which they had been tested. The firm was the manufacturer of the Lamatherm cavity barriers used during the renovations.
However, Siderise’s spokesperson maintained that their products have consistently been suitable for their intended use, explaining that the critiques of Siderise’s marketing were not about incorrect statements but rather about the lack of additional information, which created ambiguity.
In December, the government began efforts to blacklist companies tied to the Grenfell Tower tragedy from participating in public contracts.
Junior housing minister Alex Norris stated at that time that the Prime Minister had contacted 49 firms, indicating this was “the initial phase in prohibiting them from receiving government contracts.”
Siderise mentioned it had not received any correspondence from the government and did not anticipate being affected by any restrictions in the forthcoming government announcements regarding this issue.
The post Controversial Legal Challenge: Grenfell Tower Contractor Fights Council Ban Amidst Tragedy Aftermath first appeared on London.
Author : London News
Publish date : 2025-02-24 11:44:37
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