I can't believe that it is a year ago already that the Buncefield Depot in Hemel Hempstead exploded.
I know the area fairly well from my van driving days and still have friends that live and work fairly close by.
I recall being quite affected by this incident. The pictures alone make it fairly impossible not be.
The people who live close by to the site are certainly still affected. Some are still living in hotels and face another Christmas without the comfort of being in their own homes. Despite this HOSL (Hertfordshire Oil Storage Limited) are still haggling over compensation. Yep they have donated a quarter of a million quid as an emergency fund but this is really a drop in the ocean compared to the real cost of the damage. I mean this is a company that is jointly owned by the likes of Total and Chevron.
Get this..I quote from Sky News:
The local MP, Mike Penning, quotes one example of a little girl whose shoes were destroyed in the fire. They weren't covered by insurance.
Her father bought her a new pair costing only £17. The lawyers haggled, and offered £10.
Unbelievable!
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