Buncefield

It is a sorry state that the oil companies at Buncefield want to start operating again while at the same time some families have been forced to move back to a local hotel following shoddy repair work carried out to their homes which were severely damaged in the explosion. I fully support these families and I am sympathetic to their dreadful situation.

You would think super-rich oil companies would have treated the victims of the Buncefield explosion far better than they have done, especially if they are hoping to win over the local population to welcome them back as neighbours.

The oil companies are putting profits before the safety and wellbeing of my constituents. They cannot be allowed to get away with re-opening the site before compensation has been settled and before the results of the HSE Inquiry are known.

We don’t know yet whether prosecutions are going to be brought or what additional safety measures would need to be in place.

It amazes me that the oil companies have the gall to pressurize the local Council in this way – less than two years after the explosion caused so much devastation and turmoil for the people of Hemel.

The images below really show what confronted our dedicated firefighters that day...

Click on photo for larger version