A public meeting for residents saw key authorities give them an update on the investigation into Saturday’s incident in Cleat Hill, Bedford.
One person is confirmed to have died in an explosion and subsequent fire that occurred on Saturday morning, and a second person remains in hospital in a critical condition.
The meeting was held on Thursday evening 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 Health & Safety Executive (HSE), and 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.
The police, fire service and HSE are actively investigating the cause of the explosion.
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 has been brought in to support the work currently being done at the scene. It is anticipated this will help the investigation team gain a better understanding of the situation, to carry out an assessment today. 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.
A 100m cordon remains in place to protect the public and responders, ensuring the safety of the area. The centre point of the 100m cordon is 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 validated 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.
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.”