We're still living next to a bombsite a year after a house exploded on our street
Residents living near to a house which was destroyed in a gas explosion last Christmas are fuming after being forced to live next to a 'bombsite' for a year.<br /><br />Four people were injured when the property was flattened in the huge blast on Hemmingway, in Evesham, Worcs., on December 27, 2022.<br /><br />Shocking photos at the time show how the property was obliterated while the neighbouring home was also left badly damaged. <br /><br />Residents who were evacuated from their homes last year and say they have been forced to live next to the eyesore for 12 months while 'nothing has been done'.<br /><br />Builders finally began moving on to the site to erect scaffolding around the site just before Christmas but progress has since been stalled. <br /><br />Locals hope the work is the beginning of eventually being able to rebuild the homes after a year of uncertainty but are still angry it has taken so long.<br /><br />Neighbour Jason Arthurs, 53, a dad-of-two, said: "The scaffolding has only recently gone up so we hope this is the start of some progress.<br /><br />"Up until now there's been the issue of absent landlords overseas not wanting responsibility for something that is now a liability rather than an asset. <br /><br />"There's also been an ongoing health and safety investigation which has meant work to the neighbouring property has been delayed.<br /><br />"We have been fed-up waiting for so long living next to the site. It has been a source of frustration that nothing has been done after all this time. <br /><br />"It has left our properties open to the elements in the colder months too so we've had to be careful heating our homes.<br /><br />"It has been quite poignant putting up decorations this year because we were evacuated from our homes around this time last year. <br /><br />"We didn't really get a Christmas as we were in a hotel for much of the festive period. It does bring it all back."<br /><br />Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, added: "The woman who lived next door is still waiting to get back in her home 12 months on. <br /><br />"We've been forced to live next to a bomb site for a year with nothing going on. We hope these workmen will crack on with the job but I imagine there's still a lot of red tape to deal with. <br /><br />"There's a lot of legal wrangling going on, I understand, which has been delaying things, but somebody needs to take responsibility.<br /><br />"It shouldn't just be left like this for a year." <br /><br />At the time West Mercia Police launched a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).<br /><br />However the force has now said the probe has since been handed over solely to the HSE. <br /><br />A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "We handed our investigation over to the HSE, so you will need to contact them for comment."<br /><br />At the time one man was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and two other adults were taken to the Hereford County Hospital to be treated.<br /><br />The three people did not suffer life-threatening injuries and were discharged from hospital.<br /><br />Police evacuated ten neighbouring homes and gas supply was also cut off from 35 properties for the safety of the residents.<br /><br />Superintendent Nigel Webster, said previously: "This was, of course, a devastating incident, and our thoughts are with those injured, their families and the local residents."<br /><br />The HSE confirmed they were still investigating the explosion but the rebuild of the houses was a matter for insurers.<br /><br />A HSE spokesperson added: “We are now leading the investigation into the gas explosion in Evesham on 27 December 2022.”
