The history of poor accommodation in Ladbroke Grove go's back as far as the 18th century, it is that very undesirable nature which allowed Caribbean immigrants, and other foreigners mostly from the commonwealth, to take up residence and then establish communitys within North Kensington in the first place.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey ... /pp340-355" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"
As the video in the OP demonstrates, poor accommodation and the scarcity of jobs was the the excuse used to attack new arrivals during the 1950's and these two issues still feature prominently in todays discussions on inequality.
The main traffic artery into West london is the A40 and the most westernly 23 arces of that is serviced by the westway flyover which runs adjacent to Paddington, Royal Oak, Westbourne Grove, Ladbroke Grove, Latimer Road, the newly built Wood Lanes and then Shepherds Bush stations. It was completed in 1973 and much of the land it went through was occupied by a Caribbean community who were to be rehoused as a result of its construction - as were foreigners from Morroco, Ireland, Portugal, India, Pakistan and West Africa who all lived alongside the existing white working class population.
During the sixties, prior to the Westway this area of land was known as shanty town because..... well because it was riddled with poverty and Afro-Caribs. Generally viewed as an eyesore by the authorities who promised the people that inhabited the land - significantly more Afro Carib than at present - new services and amenities to make up for their displacement. Over the 50 years of my existence the land that was given to this community for housing, youth and community centres has been slowly clawed back through the stealth of RBKAC's planning imperitives and government legislation.
Acklam playground, Bay 56, The Tabernacle, Powis Sq playhut, Metro Youth Club and Community Centre, Lancaster Youth Club and the Black Peoples Information Centre exist now only in memories while Hornimans Venture playground, Maxilla and Meanwhile Gardens have all been threatened with closure or had funding reduced as a consequence of government cuts. The Caribbean community has now been reduced in size and political activity, making way for newer immigrants - this however, in no way diminishes the ongoing issue of land theft in Kensington and Chelsea from it's less wealthy residents by property developers in concert with local authorities and with the blessing of central government. Or the preventable loss of so many innocent lives and the suffering the Grenfell tragedy has brought to the people who are now left to mourn an as yet undisclosed number od dead.
http://westway23.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"
As you probably will have read, Kensington and Chelsea is the richest borough in the country - due to house prices - so its fair to assume every metre of land can be equated to potential profit on the balance sheet od said organisations. In this context the events of the last 3 weeks come as no surprise to anyone who can familiarise themselves with the historical circumstance's they have evolved out of.
http://www.colvillecom.com/page/all-saints-road" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"
Currently we have local and government authorities who are basically refusing to release a figure for the number of victims at the crime scene that was once Grenfell Tower - probably for fear of nationwide rioting - and a inquiry which is yet to begin that is being led by a judge who claims to be uncertain as to his terms of reference. Considering these are the same authorities who were not present on the ground for a full 5 days after the most tragic event in english history and the nature of extended spending cuts to emergency service's in general under successive governments it should become obvious why the local community view their intentions with more than just scepticism.
Fortunately GAG have kept records of Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation - the administrator of Lancaster West Estate where Grenfell is situated - and RBKAC's questionable conduct for some time which judge Moore - Bick, the general public and international community at large may all examine in their own time.
https://grenfellactiongroup.wordpress.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"