Poole families still without gas after 11 weeks

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A staggering 11 weeks after their gas was turned off over a carbon monoxide scare some families at a Poole development have still not been reconnected.

The supplies at 340 homes at the Harbour Reach development in Hamworthy were cut off at the end of January after potentially deadly carbon monoxide gas was discovered. Problems with leaking boiler flues are still being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.

Developer Taylor Wimpey have restored supplies to all but one of the town houses on the estate, but most of the 261 flats – many of which are in housing association hands – are without gas.

Some residents have been told they may have to wait until the end of May for reconnection. Ray Sherry, 46, a senior IT manager, said residents were becoming increasingly frustrated with the developer “dragging its heels”  and offering countless “excuses and caveats”  in their letters to householders. He said: “The whole situation has become a joke, with Taylor Wimpey seemingly doing very little to drive the reconnection of gas and the residents bearing the full brunt of their shortcomings.”

In the meantime they are making do with convection heaters and using their immersion heaters for hot water. Mr Sherry’s electricity bill was £250 higher than normal – which Taylor Wimpey have said they will cover. But he said he was still waiting for the £20-a-week payment promised as compensation for inconvenience.

A spokesman for the Taylor Wimpey said: “Remedial works in the apartments are ongoing with a number expected to be reconnected in the next two weeks. We are continuing to work closely with health and safety, Gas Safe and the housing associations to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible. We would like to reiterate our apologies to customers for the ongoing inconvenience and thank them for their patience.”