Survivors and residents of the Grenfell Tower estate have asked for more time to draw up the terms of reference for the inquiry into the fire that killed more than 80 people.
The request came up at the almost three-hour meeting in a north Kensington community centre on Thursday evening attended by the chair of the inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick – the first time he had met residents.
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The former appeal court judge, who was heckled, left saying only that the exercise had been “very useful”. Much of the heated debate revolved around problems of parliamentary timetables and anger that MPs’ holidays should apparently dictate the pace of the inquiry.
Moore-Bick told the meeting he was eager to resolve the terms of reference for the inquiry as soon as possible so that he can start taking evidence. For that to happen, parliament must receive notice before the summer recess on 20 July.
“I can’t do more than assure you that I know what it is to be impartial,” Moore-Bick told the meeting.
“I’ve been a judge for 20 years, and I give you my word that I will look into this matter to the very best of my ability and find the facts as I see them from the evidence.
“That’s my job, that’s my training, and that’s what I intend to do. Now if I can’t satisfy you because you have some preconception about me as a person that’s up to you.”
Andrea Newton, vice-chair of Lancaster West Residents Association, said afterwards: “We are calling on Theresa May to allow three further weeks for residents to make submissions on the terms of reference.
“We are not in a position to go on holiday. We are still grieving and need time to organise.” She said that Moore-Bick had listened to residents. “I don’t care which judge presides over the inquiry but they need to give us longer to [make submissions in the terms of reference].”
A civil servant who was with the judge described the meeting as “lively”. There was no mass demand for the former judge to stand down.
The session, which began at 7pm, was held in Latymer Community Church in the shadow of the burnt-out shell of Grenfell Tower. The building’s windows and walls were still plastered with notices seeking information about missing victims of the inferno. It was organised by Lancaster West Residents Association and open to residents of the surrounding estates whose identities were checked at the door.
Arriving just before 7pm, Moore-Bick said: “I’m here at the invitation of Lancaster West Residents Association and they are waiting to see me.”
A couple of residents who emerged before the end of the meeting said that they had given the judge a “run for his money”. One added: “He’s not giving any answers but I suppose he can’t do that yet.”
Melvyn Akins.
Melvyn Akins. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA
Melyvn Akins, 34, said residents felt frustrated, angry and confused. “It was always going to be an uphill struggle [for the chair of the inquiry],” he said. “People feel abandoned.
“He was saying he was going to look into things but the residents have many immediate needs. People believe arrests should be made and if there aren’t arrests then justice won’t have been done.”
Someone who suggested that the inquiry should look at the general issue of social housing was told by Moore-Bick that it would be too broad a subject for his inquiry.
Dr Lauriane Thorner, a resident, said there had been some positive developments. “They said they wanted us to give what evidence we have and the questions we [need answered].”
Jacqui Haynes.
Jacqui Haynes. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA
Not everyone was reassured at the end of the evening. Jacqui Haynes, a resident, said: “What a load of crap. We don’t want the [judge] who was handpicked by Theresa May.”
Organisations such as Inquest, which support the bereaved in coroner’s courts, have called on the government to ensure that relatives are provided with legal advice and representation.
Daniel Machover, Inquest’s chair, said: “Bereaved families, survivors and local residents affected by the fire [need] secure expert legal representation to enable their full participation in this process.
“Otherwise, families will immediately start at a disadvantage compared to the well-resourced public bodies and corporations with an interest in narrowing the inquiry.”