It is over a month since the explosion at Buncefield Oil Depot woke up the people Markyate and a large part of southern England. With the passage of time, we can now reflect and assess the impact of this disaster.
On the day of the disaster I attended the scene within the hour and have since visited the site several times. I am still always stunned at the scale of the devastation. We were incredibly fortunate that no-one was killed on 11th December, but we mustn’t forget that this was possibly the single largest incident of its kind in peacetime Europe and as to what could have been if it had been a work day, well I’d rather not think about it. The initial response that day was incredible to witness. The work of the emergency services, hospital staff, council workers, volunteer organisations and the staff of Jarman Park, the Sports Centre and retail outlets was outstanding. There was a real sense of community spirit in Dacorum that day and I am proud to represent such people in Parliament.
I am pleased that the Government is holding a major investigation into the disaster – on the same scale as the Potters Bar rail crash inquiry – but I have genuine concerns about how long this is going to take. I have been saying all along that it is vital that we move forward quickly with this as any delay will badly affect the economic wellbeing of the area. Although I welcome this week’s announcement of the appointment of the Chairman and panel of the inquiry, I am disappointed that it has taken over a month. I now call for a timetable to be set so that we know when we can expect the final report.
Many companies whose offices have been destroyed or badly damaged are waiting for the outcome of this inquiry before they make a decision on whether to rebuild at Hemel or to relocate. Some who relocate temporarily may well decide not to move back. I have received letters from Markyate people who work on Hemel’s Industrial Estate and are concerned about losing their jobs or at least longer journey-to-work times if their companies relocate.
There are also, fortunately few, families still living in temporary accommodation and the long-term situation for them is still not clear. When their homes are repaired, the value of those homes will surely be affected and I know of some who worry that their children will have nightmares when they come to move back.
Of course, the inquiry must be carried out in a professional and thorough way, but I call for it to be carried out quickly and efficiently and not get bogged down in bureaucratic red tape. Publish a timetable, so we can know what to expect and although it is not a public inquiry, I call for anyone who gives evidence to release that evidence to the local press so we can know what’s going on. | 
