Development in vicinity of gasholder is blocked by planning committee.

12.25.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 9th Nov 2007

The development and one of the gasholders

Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats welcomed the decision of the Strategic Development Committee relating to the site at 33-37 The Oval adjacent to the Bethnal Green gasholders. Ward Councillor Stephanie Eaton spoke of her relief at the decision saying "This development has been opposed by the Health and Safety Executive on the grounds that it poses a high risk of danger to potential residents. I am delighted that the Committee has given priority to the safety of Tower Hamlets residents"

After the meeting, Cllr Eaton said:

"I was pleased to be able to draw the Committee's attention to the implications of going ahead with this development knowing that the Health and Safety Executive have stated that there is a real and recognised danger in allowing development this close to a gasholder. The HSE have stated that there are typically 3 large gas escapes each year in the UK. The Bethnal Green gasholder suffered a large gas escape in 1986 which led to the evacuation of Liverpool street station which is considerably further from the site than this development. The HSE note that if there were to be a major accident there would be limited opportunity for escape and evacuation of the occupants, hence the likelihood is that there would be multiple fatalities."

In the light of this decision officers determined that formally the decision should be deferred in order to bring forward a range of options .