Latest news with #PaulSwales
BBC News
25-07-2025
- BBC News
Police seek workers from Cleat Hill explosion site
Workers on a building site close to where a house explosion killed two people have been asked to contact the Swales, 85, and Julia Harris, 84, died after an explosion and fire at a property on Cleat Hill in Bedford on 19 incident happened near to where a natural gas leak occurred in July last year after a borehole was drilled to install a heat Police want to speak to anyone who worked on the construction of a bungalow to the rear of the property between July and October. Following the explosion, 50 homes were evacuated in the immediate of those residents stayed in a hotel paid for by the local council, which also provided food Insp James Day from Bedfordshire Police said: "If you were a worker on the building site and we haven't already spoken to you, or know of anyone who was working there, please get in touch with us. "You may have information that could assist our investigation." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- BBC News
Cleat Hill explosion 'could cost Bedford Borough Council £2m'
A gas explosion that killed two people could cost the local authority millions of pounds, a meeting has been 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 £ explosion followed the escape of natural gas and led to an eight-week evacuation of homes on Cleat Hill, Glenrose Avenue and Wagstaffe 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, and his sister-in-law Julia Harris, 84, died in the explosion and subsequent fire on 19 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 council provided assistance to residents who were forced to leave their 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. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
