Lib Dems expose Council' s safety failures

12.04.55am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 29th Jan 2007

How could the planners miss the gasholder?

A partially built development around gasholders in Bethnal Green North ward has now been referred to the Secretary of State by the Health and Safety Executive due to serious concerns about the level of risk to the people who would live there. Liberal Democrat ward Councillors Azizur Rahman Khan and Stephanie Eaton raised concerns about the site in October 2006 when it was discovered that the Council had not consulted the HSE as it was required to do. Cllr Eaton commented today "For the sake of the people who might live in this development I am relieved that the HSE has now referred the application to the Secretary of State. The building is very close to a highly dangerous site and the Council's failure to consult the HSE was not only unlawful but could put people's lives at risk. The Council has failed local people and tried to cover up its negligence. It is a shocking case of incompetence with potentially fatal consequences."

When Liberal Democrats first raised concerns about the failure of planners to consult the HSE, Council officers described this as a "procedural error" and sent a letter to local residents claiming that they were safe. Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrat Leader Stephanie Eaton has repeatedly asked Council officers for confirmation that the HSE agreed that current residents are safe and has been unable to obtain this confirmation. Cllr Eaton has sent a letter to the Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets asking for a categorical assurance that the Council and the HSE are satisfied that local residents living around the gasholders are safe.

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In October 2006, Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats reported:

In a staggering case of Council incompetence criticised by the Health and Safety Executive, a Liberal Democrat Councillor has uncovered evidence that Tower Hamlets Council has unlawfully granted planning permission for housing developments within the HSE's consultation zone surrounding Bethnal Green Gasholder Station.

The Council, which failed to heed two reminders of the consultation zone around the Bethnal Green site, now faces legal action at the High Court from the National Grid.

The 60 metre 'consultation zone' is designed to eliminate the possibility of danger to human life. The main hazard from the site is an escape of gas and ignition leading to a large fireball. One of the residential developments is partially constructed and could be just eight metres from the gasholder site.

Commenting, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council, Cllr Dr Stephanie Eaton said: "Tower Hamlets Borough Council has chronically neglected its duty of care to the public. The developments in the hazard zone of Bethnal Green Gas Station are vulnerable to a potential catastrophe which could put residents in acute danger and even lead to loss of life.

"Several crucial questions must be answered immediately. Firstly, how did the situation arise whereby the Health and Safety Executive were not consulted on these planning applications? Secondly, will the Council be liable to the developers' costs if the structures already built need to be demolished for safety reasons? Finally, why has the council failed to issue stop notices to prevent further construction on these potentially hazardous sites?"

In a comment from the Council today the head of Development and Renewal, Emma Peters stated "We accept that a procedural error took place but we are confident that we are now complying to best practice to ensure the safety of everyone living in the area"

On receiving the response, Cllr Eaton stated "I am not satisfied that there are mechanisms in place to protect local residents. The people of Tower Hamlets need an immediate and unqualified assurance that their safety will be considered as the top priority by the Council's planning department and there will be no further "procedural errors" which may put our residents' lives at risk."

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The Statement by the HSE released on January 26, 2007 reads (in full):

HSE asks Secretary of State to call in Tower Hamlets planning application

By law, Local Planning Authorities must consult HSE on any planning applications for specified developments around major hazard installations.

In November 2006 the London Borough of Tower Hamlets informed HSE that they wanted to grant planning permission, against HSE's advice, for a multi-storey development at 33-37 The Oval, Bethnal Green, London E2 9DT next to gasholders operated by National Grid Gas. After careful consideration, HSE has requested, through the Government Office for London, that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Governments calls-in this application for her own determination.

HSE has taken this unusual step because of significant concern about;

the level of risk to people at the proposed development and

the conflict between regeneration plans around gasholder sites and the legal obligation to protect the public from the effects of major hazards.