Following the tragic gas explosion in Cleat Hill on 19 October 2024, in which two residents lost their lives, Richard worked to address the issues raised by this devastating event. He remained in close contact with emergency services, Bedford Borough Council, and the local community, visiting residents at the St Mark's Church Hub, which provided vital support. Richard also held a surgery on 26 October 2024 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 methane 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 subject to an investigation.
The explosion displaced several households for a period of around 8 weeks, with Bedford Borough Council providing emergency accommodation and support while the Police and Crown Prosecution Service lead an investigation. Initial findings linked 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 wrote 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 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 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 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 which took place on 4 December 2024.
On 21 November, Richard held an adjournment debate to raise the many important questions and issues surrounding the tragic gas explosion. Although some topics could not 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.
On Friday 13 December 2024, most residents were able to return home after the cordon surrounding Cleat Hill was lifted and the road re-opened. This followed a rigorous plan led by the Local Resilience Forum including the provision of a network of methane detection monitors across the area. Richard continues to press the government for support for Bedford Borough Council who have borne significant costs in dealing with the tragedy and to undertake work to understand the extent of the gas reservoir.
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.
