Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, expressed her shock at the massive fire that tore through a block of flats in Dagenham yesterday and is once again pushing for the urgent replacement of unsafe cladding.
In the early hours of Monday morning, more than 80 people were evacuated from the tower block, with two taken to hospital. The incident comes just over seven years after the Grenfell Tower fire where 72 people lost their lives.
Following Grenfell, 4,600 buildings were identified across the UK as having cladding which was potentially unsafe. The latest government figures show 50% of these buildings have either had work to replace the cladding start or been completed – meaning over 2000 still remain at risk.
Investigators examining the Dagenham blaze are working to determine its cause, with the fire service noting that the building had "known" safety issues. The investigation will also assess the role of the cladding in the fire.
Commenting on the news, Janet said:
“The news on Monday morning was truly horrifying. It was a shocking event that serves as a sobering reminder of the terrifying situation faced by many people living in these buildings.
“My thoughts and those of the constituents of Aberconwy are with everyone affected by this incident.
“Over several years I have worked cross-party in the Welsh Parliament to champion the case of building safety victims in Wales.
“Every day there are residents from Conwy to Cardiff living in fear. This serious incident in London has served to exacerbate anxiety, and as such an update is required by the First Minister urgently, before the Senedd resumes.
“Bearing in mind that there has been no official Welsh Government announcement published on their website on any matter since 24 August, it is high time that Eluned Morgan make a formal announcement with the aim of trying to provide reassurance and clarity to building safety victims in Wales worried about the safety of their lives and homes”.
ENDS
Mynegodd Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, ei sioc am y tân enfawr a rwygodd drwy floc o fflatiau yn Dagenham ddoe ac mae'n pwyso unwaith eto am gael gwared ar gladin anniogel ar unwaith.
Yn oriau mân bore Llun, cafodd dros 80 o bobl eu symud o’r bloc uchel, gyda dau yn cael eu cludo i'r ysbyty. Daw'r digwyddiad ychydig dros saith mlynedd ar ôl tân Tŵr Grenfell lle collodd 72 o bobl eu bywydau.
Yn dilyn Grenfell, nodwyd bod 4,600 o adeiladau ledled y DU â chladin a allai fod yn anniogel. Mae ffigyrau diweddaraf y llywodraeth yn dangos bod gwaith i newid y cladin wedi dechrau neu wedi’i gwblhau ar 50% o'r adeiladau hyn – sy'n golygu bod dros 2000 yn parhau i fod mewn perygl.
Mae ymchwilwyr sy'n archwilio tân Dagenham yn gweithio i geisio canfod ei achos, gyda'r gwasanaeth tân yn nodi bod materion diogelwch yn “hysbys” yn yr adeilad. Bydd yr ymchwiliad yn asesu rôl y cladin yn y tân hefyd.
Wrth sôn am y newyddion, dywedodd Janet:
“Roedd y newyddion fore Llun yn wirioneddol ddychrynllyd. Roedd yn ddigwyddiad erchyll sy'n ein hatgoffa o'r sefyllfa frawychus a wynebir gan lawer o bobl sy'n byw yn yr adeiladau hyn.
“Mae fy meddyliau i a rhai etholwyr Aberconwy gyda phawb sydd wedi eu heffeithio gan y digwyddiad hwn.
“Rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio’n drawsbleidiol ers sawl blwyddyn yn y Senedd i hyrwyddo achos dioddefwyr diogelwch adeiladau yng Nghymru.
“Bob dydd mae trigolion o Gonwy i Gaerdydd yn byw mewn ofn. Mae'r digwyddiad difrifol hwn yn Llundain wedi dwysau’r pryder, ac felly mae angen diweddariad gan y Prif Weinidog ar unwaith, cyn i'r Senedd ymgynnull eto.
“O gofio na chyhoeddwyd cyhoeddiad swyddogol Llywodraeth Cymru ar eu gwefan ar unrhyw fater ers 24 Awst, mae'n hen bryd i Eluned Morgan wneud cyhoeddiad swyddogol gyda'r nod o geisio rhoi sicrwydd ac eglurder i ddioddefwyr diogelwch adeiladau yng Nghymru sy'n poeni am ddiogelwch eu bywydau a'u cartrefi”.
DIWEDD
