Grenfell Tower will be gradually covered up and completely under wrap by November.

The team set up to support people affected by the fire says covering will be put up in stages as the recovery operation progresses.

The information comes after members of the public pleaded for the burnt-out building to be covered at the full Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting held on Wednesday (July 19) night.

Grenfell Response Team (GRT) said covering up the building was the third part of a three-phase operation, and added no long-term decision on the building has been taken.

Fire service personnel survey the damage inside Grenfell Tower

The subject was raised by a Grenfell resident at the meeting and was made moments before she collapsed to the floor, bringing the meeting to a sudden end .

She said: “We would like to have the building covered because it’s terrifying the community.

“We’ve been told it can’t be done because it will tamper with evidence, but wind and rain is tampering with evidence.

“Why are you not covering that building so people don’t have to look at it and can see it?

“What are you trying to achieve?

“Is that how you show sympathy?

Footage showing the catastrophic damage caused inside the building

“When you look at that building you see the souls of the dead in there.

“I’m asking you, please do whatever you’re supposed to do to protect and look after us.”

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Addressing the state of the building, the GRT said the tower remained stable and no risk to public safety, with a sophisticated system of on-site alarms which can detect the tiniest movements caused by gusts of wind, temperature changes or shifts in the building as heavy material is removed.

The timetable for work includes three phases:

  • Shoring up the building structure with steel supports.
  • Erecting scaffolding to allow debris, possessions and other material to be removed.
  • Putting up a cover in stages as successive floors are cleared. This work will proceed over coming weeks with a view to the building being covered by November.

Addressing the future of the building, GRT said: “No long term decision on the building will be taken until survivors, their relatives and local people have been consulted.

“We realise the sensitivity and strong emotion that activity around the building can provoke so all work will be carried out with residents’ concerns at the centre of our considerations."

Newly elected leader Cllr Elizabeth Campbell said at the meeting that Grenfell survivors and their families would have the determining say on the future of the tower site.

At least 80 people died in the fire which spread rapidly throughout the 24-storey building

GRT has not confirmed with what the tower will be covered.

The GRT includes London-wide local councils, the Mayor of London, central government, British Red Cross, Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade and many different local and national voluntary groups.

It is led by City of London chief executive John Barradell and Southwark Council chief executive Eleanor Kelly.

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