FOLLOWING the terrible tragedy of Grenfell Tower, an angry public outcry has questioned cost-cutting that resulted in 79 deaths.

They demand to know why the management company contracted by the Conservative-controlled Kensington and Chelsea fitted flammable rather than fireresistant cladding.

Despite frequent complaints from residents’ groups, it appears that corporate profit was put before the needs of ordinary people.

There is an unfortunate parallel here with the imposition of fracking in Ryedale.

Despite massive popular protest to the Conservative-controlled county council, it has been decreed that corporate profits outweigh the many health dangers of fracking, let alone its threats to the environment and to agriculture and tourism.

Like the poor people of Grenfell Tower, our interests come second when there’s money to be made.

Dr Peter Williams, Malton