One cannot fail to be moved and angered by the disaster that has befallen the residents of the Grenfell tower block inferno.

What this event has clearly highlighted is the failure of government; local and national; in respect of their duty of care to citizens living in the richest borough in the UK.

There can be little doubt that austerity will cited as one of the reasons that has contributed to this tragedy and has led to under funding of regeneration projects; forcing local authorities to go for the cheaper option.

This may or may not be true but how many more times will we read how the fears or complaints of communities often go ignored by the authorities until it is too late or hear that overused phrase; lessons will been learned; when they seldom are.

Someone has blood on their hands, heads will roll but whose will they be?
Wherever the blame lies it will be of little comfort to the people who have lost their lives, homes and possessions.

Malcolm Richards

Aberthaw Road
Newport