The deconstruction of Grenfell Tower "will pause" this summer, the Government has announced, as a mark of respect for the ninth anniversary of the fire. Works at the site of the tragedy in North Kensington will stop for several days around the anniversary date.
Anniversary Commemoration
The Grenfell community will commemorate the ninth anniversary of the fire on Sunday, June 14 this year. Deconstruction of the Tower will take a pause for several days over the anniversary, it was announced on Thursday (April 30). A Government spokesperson said: "We recognise that Grenfell Tower has a deep personal significance to those most affected by the tragedy, and that the land is sacred to families. We want to keep you updated on our work as we carefully take down the tower."
The spokesperson added: "The Grenfell community is preparing to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the tragedy this June. We remain committed to supporting bereaved families, survivors and the wider community at this time. As a mark of respect, work at the tower will pause from lunchtime on Friday 12 June and will not resume until Tuesday 16 June."
Lighting and Banners
Additional lighting will also shine from the tower to mark the anniversary. However, Grenfell Tower will not be accessible due to the ongoing works. Grenfell heart banners will remain in place for the anniversary before being removed and "safely stored", the Government said. The banners have been in place at the tower since June 2018. "We recognise that the tower will look different, and that the banners are meaningful to many people," the Government added. People are encouraged to get in touch if they have any questions.
The banners have been moved down the tower as deconstruction works have been progressing. Banner lights have also been repositioned so they shine upwards onto the banners. Beams of light will continue to shine on the tower each night while the deconstruction takes place. These will shine upwards at each corner of the tower every night from dusk until 11pm, alongside lights shining on the Grenfell heart banners.
Deconstruction Process
The tower is being taken down behind the white outer wrapping. This is being done floor-by-floor, with each of these expected to take around a month to complete. Smaller parts of the tower are being brought down inside the building. Larger parts, such as external columns, are being removed in sections and taken down in covered containers outside of the building by crane. Anyone with questions can find details on who to contact on the Government website.
