Bedford Borough Council has said it will no longer be able to allow visits to homes evacuated after an explosion in Cleat Hill at the weekend due to safety concerns but that they hope to “resolve this issue” as soon as they can.
In an updated statement sent a few moments ago, Bedford Borough Council says it is continuing to work closely with Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and other bodies, following the explosion in Cleat Hill at the weekend in which a person died.
Read: Man dies after Cleat Hill explosion and housefire
With homes being evacuated, an Emergency Assistance Centre was set up by the council for people whose homes were evacuated. Emergency accommodation is still in place for those who need it but opportunities to visit their homes have now been withdrawn.
“For safety reasons, we remain unable to arrange further visits to homes at present, but the authorities are prioritising the creation of an action plan to resolve this issue to enable residents to safely return to their premises to gather essential items,” said a Council spokesperson.
They added that police remain at the scene and police officers will also be patrolling the area to prevent anyone from entering the safety cordon.
Advice and support
Bedford Borough Council has opened an advice and support centre, set up an emergency helpline for residents, and are sending updates to residents throughout each day.
Anyone who has been affected by Saturday’s incident and needs extra emotional support can call the Samaritans helpline on 116 123 which is free and available 24/7.
Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton said; “I’m deeply saddened by the tragic incident at Cleat Hill. My thoughts are with the family, friends, and all those directly affected, as well as the wider local community.
“We are working closely with the emergency services and other partner organisations to provide any assistance needed, both at the scene and to residents who have been impacted.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Bedfordshire Police, the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Bedford Borough Council, Cadent and our dedicated council staff for their swift and thorough response to this distressing event.
“We will continue to offer support as the emergency response progresses.”
“Brewing for months”
Investigations into the cause of the explosion are ongoing but ITV News has reported that people living near the fatal house explosion are concerned a disaster like this could have been “been brewing” for months.
In July a gas leak in the area was caused by underground drilling. Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service (BFRS) said the incident was brought to a “safe resolution” after four days of work.
A spokesperson for contractors working at the site also added at the time, “While undertaking the installation of a closed loop ground source heat pump borehole we have encountered a pocket of naturally occurring gas at approximately 100 meters below ground level.
“The borehole has been temporarily capped to control the flow of gas while we work with the emergency services to permanently close the borehole.”
Bedfordshire Police announced on Sunday night (20 October) that homes around the area would be evacuated after increased levels of “natural gas” were detected in the area.
“Following the explosion and subsequent identification of increased levels of natural gas in the ground, an evacuation of the immediate area has been undertaken and a cordon and road closures remain in place as a precaution,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Zara Brown.
“The gas levels identified are thought to be naturally occurring gasses from an underground source and not coming from the gas pipe network in the area.
“Safety is our main priority, and so we are still advising for people to avoid the Cleat Hill area whilst work at the scene continues,” she said.
