Following the tragic gas explosion in Cleat Hill on 19 October 2024, in which two residents lost their lives, Richard has been actively working to address the issues raised by this devastating event. He has been in close contact with emergency services, Bedford Borough Council, and the local community, visiting residents at the St Mark's Church Hub, which is providing vital support. Richard also held a surgery on 26 October to hear directly from those affected and has requested urgent funding from the Home Office to assist the Council in managing their emergency response efforts.
A gas reservoir was discovered in July 2024 during the drilling of a 100m+ borehole for a ground source heat pump in a back garden in a residential neighbourhood. Drilling such a hole for a heat pump or other reason is deemed “permitted development” so there was no requirement to get a permit and no requirement to notify.
The period between July and October and the decisions taken at that time are now subject to an investigation.
The explosion has displaced several households, with Bedford Borough Council providing emergency accommodation and support while the Police and Crown Prosecution Service are leading an investigation, initial findings link the explosion to the natural gas discovery made during the installation of a ground source heat pump in July, raising concerns about the adequacy of existing regulations governing such drilling.
In response, Richard has written to multiple Ministers seeking answers about whether this is an isolated incident or indicative of a broader risk, what regulations govern deep drilling in residential areas and whether regulatory changes will be introduced to prevent similar occurrences in future. He has also raised questions about the HSE’s role in ensuring safety when natural gas is discovered and the effectiveness of the measures taken in July to control the leak and safeguard residents. Richard has also called on the government to provide financial support to Bedford Borough Council to help cover the unexpected costs arising from this incident and to address concerns about the potential impact on house prices and insurance premiums for those affected. He also raised questions on insurance with the Association of British Insurers. He remains committed to ensuring residents receive the support they need and that robust measures are implemented to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Richard has received a reply from the Department for Work and Pensions and a reply from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
In Parliament, during Energy Questions in November, Richard asked the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero for a meeting to discuss these issues. This meeting is taking place on 4 December.
On 21 November, Richard held an adjournment debate to raise the many important questions and issues surrounding the tragic gas explosion. Although some topics cannot be discussed openly due to the ongoing investigation into the period from June 2nd when gas was first discovered, to October 19th when the explosion occurred, it was nevertheless important to state the questions and have them officially recorded.
More information can be found on Bedford Borough Council's website at https://www.bedford.gov.uk/environmental-issues/emergencies/cleat-hill-incident
Richard's updates are available below.
