On Monday I was glad to host the latest meeting for the residents affected by the explosion of Cleat Hill at Borough Hall.
The meeting was chaired by our Director for the Environment, Craig Austin, and attended by representatives of the Fire Service, Police Force, and the Health and Safety Executive.
I am absolutely determined that the residents, who have been removed from their homes and subjected to unimaginable stress and anxiety by the tragic events of that day, will be kept fully up to date by all of our partner agencies and by the Council.
The meeting was very productive with residents being able to ask questions of the Council and our partner agencies. There was also an update provided by a representative of our Member of Parliament Richard Fuller MP with whom we continue to work in close partnership. Mr Fuller has secured a debate in Parliament to put more questions to the Minister and raise this matter at a higher level and I look forward to working with him more in the future.
Bedford Borough Council will stand with these residents and their Bedford Borough Councillor, Nicky Gribble, till the end of the process. We are their trades union and I will fight to ensure that issues around the value and potential resale of their property, the cost of their insurance, and the piece of mind they feel living in their own home are resolved for them.
I am very grateful to Richard for fighting with us in Parliament, to Nicky for working with us as the Ward Councillor, and to our Borough officers and partner agencies for their diligence and determination to seek a resolution.
I look forward to receiving another update at the next meeting on Monday the 25th November at Borough Hall.
