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Replacement boiler breaks down on Grenfell estate
The temporary boiler providing gas to homes on the estate where Grenfell Tower is located broke down over the weekend, leaving the remaining homes without heating.
The main boiler on the Lancaster West Estate was destroyed in the fire that killed 72 residents in June last year, with a temporary boiler installed to provide heating and hot water to remaining residents.
On Saturday night the temporary boiler broke down, with police and firefighters called after residents saw steam pouring out from a broken pipe at around 8pm.
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The pipe was fixed by approximately 10.30pm and heating switched back on. It took approx. three hours for the system to become fully operational.
Council staff opened up the Curve Community Centre in Bard Road to provide assistance and warmth for residents, until heating was fully restored.
A number of portable heaters were also bought; in case they were needed or needed in future. Many other centres, including churches, also opened their doors.
The council has urged engineers to find a better solution than the emergency boiler that has been in place since the Grenfell Tower tragedy last year.
Barry Quirk, chief executive of the council, said: “We were on site quickly, and the engineers from did an effective job. The community have been incredible again. We want to see a permanent solution for heating and hot water on the estate.
“I will be asking that engineers come back to me with plans for this to happen as a matter of urgency.”
The Metropolitan Police said on Twitter: “Police attended Lancaster West Estate along with London Fire following concerns about a possible fire. Officers attended. There is no fire. It is a burst hot water pipe which is causing steam. No injuries. No arrests. Suspected to be due to cold weather.”
Sammy Wordy, a resident of the estate, told Inside Housing on Saturday: “There’s no heating or hot water for thousands of people in the estate and it’s snowing tonight. The temporary boiler – fitted after the fire – was working on and off before this.”
Since the fire, the council, which officially took over housing management from its arms-length company Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, has reduced the rent of tenants on the estate and their service charges by up to 50% in recognition of the disruption.
