Grenfell Tower to be demolished.

[AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta]

News - Grenfell to be demolished, bereaved families told www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5g99xy979o BBC News - Grenfell to be demolished, bereaved families told www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5g99xy979o

I can understand why some people want it torn down and a nice memorial there instead. But I also see why some want it left as it's a final resting place to so many.

@OurChristmasMiracle yes at some point it will probably start to collapse. There is a school on one side of it, flats on the other side. Tube line directly behind it and a sports centre in front. All very very close. If it collapsed it could cause severe damage to all those buildings.

I think a proper memorial with everyone's names like the WTC site has would be best. It does need a significant memorial.

Honestly I'm amazed it hasn't been demolished already. I feel for those who lost loved ones but a crumbling shell of a building doesn't help anyone.

Replace it with a building of the highest possible safety standards to show that we have learned from the fire. That would be a fitting tribute to those who died.

@NetballHoop no replacement building should be put in the tiny space. The flats were essentially trapped in a corner with very bad access for the emergency services.

Ah, I don't know the size of the area so you may be right. I just thought it could be an opportunity to raise the satndard of all new housing.

I agree it should ultimately go. It's dangerous and unsustainable to keep it.

There are quite a few people in housing estates around it who have a view of it from their windows, which has to be distressing, particularly since some of them will have lost friends or family. It's a shame that the process around the investigations has been so awful for the families and survivors. It's all been handled really poorly.

It does have a small footprint and is in a very crowded area. As PP's have referenced, it's attached to a really lovely little primary school and essentially more housing. It's right behind a busy leisure centre and a big academy school, so the only thing that could really replace it would be another high rise, which would be a terrible mistake, imo.

A garden with a memorial would be the right thing to do.

It definitely needs some sort of memorial and a garden would be lovely provided it reminded well maintained. A few of the suggestions to "just stick a plaque up" sound almost callous.

That's what I was wondering. probably not. It is so desperately sad for all concerned.

If it was left standing, it would have to be maintained, otherwise the structure would become dangerous.

I think demolishing it is a very good thing.

Can’t believe it’s going to take 2 years to demolish. The cost and impact of this is crazy. Get rid quick and put a nice community centre or similar in its place.

It's next door to a community sports centre so making a memorial garden with maybe a play area would make the most sense.

Isn’t it typical that a government who says we need to grow the economy, cut the bureaucracy etc. announced it will take 2 years to demolish the building?! Not saying its their fault it will take that long but doesn’t it demonstrate what a state we are in?

I do think its the right decision though but it needs to be done quickly, respectfully and at the same time develop plans in consultation with the families on a fitting memorial to those who lost their lives.

And it shouldn’t take another two years

Why is going take two years to demolish are they removing one brick at a time, ridiculous.

Considering that there are several buildings in very close proximity, it's going to have to be demolished bit by bit, which is very slow. They're not going to be able to dynamite it to bring it down in one go. There is also apparently asbestos in the building which is why parts of it were sheeted very quickly after the fire and long before the scaffolding and proper screening was put up - that also prevents explosives being used. It's basically going to have to be broken up manually by pneumatic drills, top down.

I wonder if they could use the demolition material on site for a memorial garden. Crushed concrete substrates are quite popular now as planting substrate. Or use it as a sub base for a small hill garden or other landform.

Then they really will still be there and maybe that can bring some comfort.

Yes, exactly this.

Oh theres asbestos. Cancel that then.

It needs to be demolished. In no other circumstances would this happen. Imagine leaving plane wreckage or a crashed car lying about. A suitable memorial for those who died should be built alongside housing that's needed in the community.

I can't say as I know much about demolition, but a quick look on google maps will show anyone who doesn't know the area just how little space there is around there. They'd have to be very careful, especially with the asbestos.

There really isn't room for housing on the footprint.

Essentially yes, because knocking it down like a normal tower block would be incredibly distressing for the bereaved. There are likely human remains in there still.

The government has said will be a memorial tower there, 5 firms have been consulted for who / what will be put in its place.

I drove past it a few days after it happened, it was the most haunting thing I've ever seen and has stuck with me. It's quite a sobering sight as you drive past.

There are still remains in there, not everyone got out and not everyone was found.

I see both sides but whatever happens needs to be done carefully, with extreme tact, and to give dignity to those who lost their lives.

It just be an horrendous thing to live in the shadow of. The people living nearby/going to school there must worry about it coming down everytime there is bad weather.

@lastminutetrip thank you for sharing that about Epsom. I had no idea and have been reading the stories of those who were detained and died there. Such sad stories