Cleat Hill explosion 'could cost Bedford Borough Council £2m'
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, 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.
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.
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