Residents were told that a 100m cordon will remain in place at Cleat Hill as the emergency services and Health & Safety Executive (HSE) investigate the cause of the gas explosion that killed one person on Saturday (19 October).
At a public meeting for residents on Thursday evening (24 October), key authorities gave an update on the investigation into the explosion and subsequent fire that occurred on Saturday morning.
A second person remains in hospital in a critical condition.
The meeting was held on Thursday evening (24 October) and saw residents who live in the evacuation area hear from and ask questions of Bedford Borough Council, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Bedfordshire Police, the HSE and the British Geological Survey.
They discussed both the ongoing response and recovery, the support being offered to residents, and the investigation to date.
A cordon remains in place for the safety of the public and to allow operations to take place and the police, fire service and HSE are actively investigating the cause of the explosion.
A spokesperson for the Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum said: “The safety of residents, responders, and the protection of homes within the cordon remain our top priority.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and manage all risks associated with the incident.
“Although the recovery and investigation process is complex, we are committed to ensuring that the community of Cleat Hill is supported throughout this difficult time.”
Bedford Borough Council said that a number of residents are being supported to collect essential belongings from their homes, “in a safe, controlled and supervised manner when the conditions allow”.
Specialist equipment is being used to help the investigation team gain a better understanding of the situation and to carry out an assessment today (Friday).
“Once they have the results from this assessment, agencies will be in a position to create a plan of action and the next steps required from a technical and scientific perspective,” said the statement from the council.
The 100m cordon remains in place to protect the public and responders, with the centre point located at the borehole exit on Cleat Hill. Following the incident on Saturday, both ground and aerial evaluations conducted by Cadent and the British Geological Survey have agreed on the suitability of this 100m cordon.
There are some premises in Glenrose Avenue and Wagstaff Close that are outside the 100m cordon but their access passes through the 100m cordon, which is why these properties have been evacuated. The effectiveness of this cordon is continuously reviewed.
Support for residents from Bedford Borough Council includes an Advice and Support Centre, the provision of temporary accommodation, financial support, and a dedicated 24-hour emergency helpline.
Anyone needing extra emotional support can call the Samaritans helpline on 116 123 which is free and available 24/7.
