Fatal gas blast 'could cost council £2m'

Two people died following the explosion on Cleat Hill, Bedford, last October

A gas explosion that killed two people could cost the local authority millions of pounds, a meeting has been told.

Bedford Borough Council has already spent £1m in recovery costs since the fatal blast on Cleat Hill in October 2024, but that bill could rise to £2m.

The explosion followed the escape of natural gas and led to an eight-week evacuation of homes on Cleat Hill, Glenrose Avenue and Wagstaffe Close.

Jim Weir, the council's portfolio holder for finance, told a council meeting of the devastation felt by many at "the loss of life and disruption".

He added: "But we also need to consider, as a council, the impact that Cleat Hill has had and will have on the financial performance of the council."

Paul Swales, 85, died in the explosion

Paul Swales, 85, and his sister-in-law Julia Harris, 84, died in the explosion and subsequent fire on 19 October.

It happened near where there was an underground gas leak in July after a borehole was drilled to install a ground source heat pump, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council provided assistance to residents who were forced to leave their homes.

Some stayed in a Travelodge paid for by the council, which also provided food vouchers.

Fifty households within a 100m (about 330ft) cordon of the site were evacuated

Weir, a Conservative councillor, said: "Costs relating to the emergency response to the gas explosion total, so far, £1,055,000.

"At this time, it remains difficult to predict future spend as the solutions to bring the recovery to a close are still to be determined."

The council's chief executive agreed to commit an extra £1m to the emergency response if required.