10 February 2006
Mike Penning calls for the Health & Safety Executive to issue guidance to planning departments.
Whilst acknowledging that full recommendations cannot be issued until the HSE has completed its investigation into the Buncefield Oil Depot fire. Mike Penning called for the HSE to issue immediate guidance to planning departments throughout the country.
In a written reply to Mike Penning, Yvette Cooper (Minister for Housing and Planning, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) wrote: ‘The Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency are currently investigating the causes of the incident at Buncefield. So far the investigation has not revealed any grounds to change the basis of HSE's existing advice to planning authorities’.
A shocked Mike Penning said:
“It seems incredible to me that planning departments could still be granting permission to build homes and offices right next door to oil depots and refineries. We need to ensure that lessons are learned - and learned quickly. The HSE should issue an interim guidance note to the effect that no homes or offices can be built around oil installations until the investigation is complete. Irrespective of the cause of the explosion, it is clear that it is dangerous to allow new homes and offices to be built so close to oil depots until we know what safety features need to be in place.”
Whilst acknowledging that full recommendations cannot be issued until the HSE has completed its investigation into the Buncefield Oil Depot fire. Mike Penning called for the HSE to issue immediate guidance to planning departments throughout the country.
In a written reply to Mike Penning, Yvette Cooper (Minister for Housing and Planning, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) wrote: ‘The Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency are currently investigating the causes of the incident at Buncefield. So far the investigation has not revealed any grounds to change the basis of HSE's existing advice to planning authorities’.
A shocked Mike Penning said:
“It seems incredible to me that planning departments could still be granting permission to build homes and offices right next door to oil depots and refineries. We need to ensure that lessons are learned - and learned quickly. The HSE should issue an interim guidance note to the effect that no homes or offices can be built around oil installations until the investigation is complete. Irrespective of the cause of the explosion, it is clear that it is dangerous to allow new homes and offices to be built so close to oil depots until we know what safety features need to be in place.”
