Hemel Hempstead’s Member of Parliament, Mike Penning has criticised BP’s decision to reopen at Buncefield despite lack of a public inquiry into the Buncefield explosion and fire in December 2005. Although it was not the BP part of the site that was involved in the explosion, there is still a lack of confidence about the safety of storing fuel on any part of the depot.
Mike said:
“Oil companies are putting profits before the safety of the residents of Hemel Hempstead. How can they reopen when we haven’t had a public inquiry and the behind-closed-doors inquiry carried out by the Health and Safety Executive didn’t provide real answers as to why the explosion occurred?”
He went on:
“I am at a loss as to how the Health and Safety Executive have let the site continue to hold its safety licence under the COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations throughout. The oil companies have made no effort to address the fears of local residents and businesses. Some families have still not returned to their homes, many have still not received full compensation and, of course, the criminal prosecutions are still ongoing.
“Although planning permission has recently been granted by Dacorum Borough Council, the Council’s hands were tied – they had no choice but to grant it.
“The people of Hemel Hempstead are left with no say about the reopening of Buncefield. No one has listened to their concerns. The Government should step in to protect the people of Hemel and give us a full public inquiry so we know what happened and what is safe for the future.
“It is far too early to be reopening parts of the depot when there is so much unfinished business and ill feeling in the local community.”
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