Anne Main comments on the announcement that BP is to recommence operations at the Buncefield Oil Terminal site.

Following the announcement that BP is to recommence operations at the Buncefield Oil Terminal site, and that thousands of residents are to receive a leaflet about the proposals, Anne Main, MP for St Albans said:

"I have opposed planning applications on this site since the explosion, as I believe that the lack of resolution over the cause of the explosion means that residents will be naturally concerned about any resumption of activities.

The recent alterations in COMAH guidelines meant that recent proposals for a lorry rest on the site were refused on the grounds that drivers would be too near to fuel tanks for Health and Safety reasons. This decision only heightened the concerns of neighbouring residents and businesses about their proximity to the site. Under those circumstances it is understandable that there are concerns about its future operation and start-up.

I can understand the business case for wanting to restart the site, but the scars of Buncefield are still very raw. Severely affected residents, like my constituent Mr Ian Silverstein, who is still homeless two years after the explosion, are somewhat bitter at the reestablishment of business operations on the site. When their lives, homes and businesses are still being blighted by the effects of the explosion it seems somewhat insensitive to recommence operations.

I do, however, welcome the additional 55 measures to improve health and safety and environmental standards that are being proposed, but I still feel that it would have been better to have waited for the Health and Safety Executive's report before any activities are resumed on this site.""