Fatal explosion: MP wants drilling rules 'looked at'

An MP has said regulations on drilling boreholes to install heat pumps need to be "looked at" after a fatal explosion at house.

Paul Swales, 85, died and a woman remains in a critical condition after a house exploded in Cleat Hill, Bedford on 19 October.

The blast happened in an area where, on 2 July, contractors struck a pocket of natural gas while drilling a borehole to install a heat pump. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said in this month's incident, natural gas had escaped from a nearby site.

Now the area's MP, Richard Fuller, has said he will be raising questions with ministers about safety regulations.

Meanwhile, dozens of residents whose properties were within a 100m cordon around the explosion have still not returned home.

The HSE said it was working on a permanent solution to seal off the borehole and get the escaping gas "under control".

After a public meeting on Monday, Fuller, the Conservative MP for North Bedfordshire, said: "It came as a shock to me that people could drill so deeply into a garden and no-one needs to know about it.

"It's what's called 'permitted development', so I'm going to raise some questions with ministers, as in, 'is there a gap here in regulations?'."

He added: "I'm told that this sort of incident hasn't occurred before so it's quite rare, but now it has occurred we really ought to look at the regulations to see if they are up to date, and what people would anticipate should happen.

"Particularly as the new government is keen to move forward with these renewables, so we'll see a lot more of these drillings for ground-source heat pumps, so it's important the regulations keep up with the experiences we've had."

Mr Fuller said the HSE had not yet set a timeline for when residents could return to their homes.

Two of those still living in temporary accommodation told the BBC they wanted to return home - but also wanted to be sure it was safe to do so.

Shin Cheema said his elderly mother had been placed in a care home.

"It’s been over a week now - it’s been a stressful period for us," said Mr Cheema.

"Mum, she had carers come in every day and she’s had to go into a care home.

"Obviously she’s not very happy there - she’s missing home, we don’t see her."

He said one of the reasons why he moved to the house was to be able to be with his mother and look after her.

"And now this has happened, we were trying to avoid her going into the care home.

"She has to stay there until the situation is resolved.

"She wants to come home and we would like her to come home very soon as well," he added.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Bedford Borough Council said: "Every resident who was evacuated from their home after an incident in Bedford last weekend has now had a chance to access their property, giving them the opportunity to collect their belongings.

"Last Saturday (19 October) 50 households had to be evacuated, following an explosion and subsequent fire at a residence in Cleat Hill."

Susan Barnet told the BBC she had needed to go back home to collect a heart monitor that had been left behind. She said she was grateful to the council for its help.

"There’s questions they can’t answer, but we know they’re doing all they can to make it safe for us residents," said Ms Barnet.

"We’re comfortable, the council has helped us with accommodation – we’re being well-looked after and I’d rather they get it right this time so we can go back in the knowledge that we’re going to be safe."

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