LYING only two miles south of the scorched remains of the Grenfell Tower block sits a large complex of expensive, luxury apartments in Kensington Row.

Luxuriously appointed and stylishly designed, they paint the perfect picture of an aspirational lifestyle.

It's a tale of two cities as the image of one blackened block is compared to the swanky high rises, highlighting what we already know: that London, and society as a whole, has a great divide of wealth, class and privilege.

Last week the news broke that in a bid to assist families who had survived the fire which took the lives of 79 people, the survivors are to be rehoused in 68 of the Kensington Row apartments.

This should be welcome, if uncharacteristically good news, yet there have been mixed reactions. Whilst many have welcomed the decision, there has nonetheless been a Greek chorus of negativity.

The Guardian reported that there were varied reactions from those already living in the Kensington Row flats. Some argued that whilst they had worked hard for such luxuries, these families were getting something for nothing.

Others feared the value of their homes might drop as a result of their new tenants, and expressed anger over unsubstantiated loss of future revenue.

It's hard to read the news these days without despairing.

Since the fire, on the one hand we have heard reports of a community's resilience. People banding together to get through this difficult time, volunteers raising money and supporting the families affected by the tragedy.

Celebrities like Lily Allen and Andy Murray have spoken out and pledged to give money, Simon Cowell has released a star studded single with the proceeds going to those affected and politicians have vowed to do right going forward.

Yet there's no denying the worm that so often burrows its way into the human spirit. The 'stay in your station' divide between rich and poor, putting personal luxuries and comfort ahead of other people's basic survival.

It's an ongoing thread that seems to permeate daily discourse and actions. Offering sympathy and compassion is provided wholeheartedly from afar, so long as it doesn't directly affect or alter someone's daily life.

Even as homes lie empty, better to wait for a more deserving tenant than help those in immediate need, seems to be too familiar a response.

Turning a blind eye is how tragedies like these are allowed to happen, as we hear that countless safety checks and recommendations for the block were ignored.

The Grenfell Tower fire was a devastating tragedy, and the next few weeks are likely to bring further revelations about the building's cladding material - and whether it was chosen in the pursuit of profit ahead of people's ensured safety.

Whilst West Dunbartonshire Council has already confirmed their council blocks are not clad in the same dangerous materials, this is not a time to get complacent.

Ensuring tragedies like this do not happen again surely must involve treating each other like equals, and ensuring those in power do the same.