Residents who have been evacuated from their homes in Bedford are set to meet with Council bosses, to agree how best to manage their eventual return.
Bedford Borough Council hosted the latest meeting on Monday evening, where residents heard from representatives from the Council Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
Two people are confirmed to have died following an explosion and subsequent fire which occurred in Cleat Hill last month. A cordon remains in place for the safety of the public and to allow operations to take place, with the police, fire service and HSE actively investigating the cause of the explosion.
Residents from all 50 evacuated households were free to attend the meeting, which was also live-streamed online for those who could not make it in person.
Staff from Bedford Borough Council are to have discussions with residents, both individually and in groups, about monitoring of the area and of homes moving forward, as well as about what reassurances they would want around returning to their homes.
A spokesperson for the Council said; “Everyone who has been evacuated from their home will have had a different experience and it’s vital that we understand what reassurances they need, both when going back to their home and moving forward beyond that.
“It’s not only important that are residents are kept safe and that we listen to them, but that we they know we are listening to them. That’s a key reason for why we’ve had our meetings over the last few weeks, and why we are having these more intimate discussions with residents.
“As a council we are providing temporary accommodation to all residents who need it for as long as required. The various support services include financial support, an Advice and Support Centre with free digital access and a printer, the offer of free office space with free car parking at Borough Hall, and a 24-hour emergency helpline. We have been sending regular text updates to evacuated residents, as well as separate messages to residents in the surrounding area who sign up for them.
“We have also worked closely with partner agencies, facilitating residents to go back to their homes to collect essential belongings, with the welfare checks and assessments, and with door-knocking in the wider area. And we have supported the patrols by Bedfordshire Police by arranging for officers from a private security firm.
“We appreciate that this has been a challenging time for residents, and we appreciate their patience, cooperation and understanding. We will continue to offer our support.”