Buncefield - the forgotten disaster
11th December 2007
On the second anniversary of the Buncefield disaster, Mike Penning condemns the oil companies for pushing to reopen the site before victims have received compensation.
Today marks the second anniversary of the Buncefield disaster and Hemel MP, Mike Penning, used the occasion to reiterate calls for compensation to be paid before the oil companies are allowed to reopen the site.
Mike said:
“It is insensitive in the least for the oil companies to be pushing for the site to reopen whilst some residents and businesses are still waiting for compensation. Some of my constituent’s lives were turned upside down that morning and it beggars belief that super rich oil companies have been unable to reach settlements with the people whose lives they destroyed.
“The local Council is being pressured to rush through planning applications, even though we don’t know if prosecutions are going to be brought or what additional safety measures need to be in place.”
Mike, who again raised the issue in Parliament last week, added:
“It seems to me that these oil companies are putting profits before the safety and wellbeing of local people. They should not be allowed to get away with re-opening the site before compensation has been fully settled and before the results of the HSE Inquiry are known.”
