New Ferry One Year On - "A small help from the Government would've got us back on our feet"
It's been a year since the explosion
A Wirral MP says it would have cost the Government less than the price of building a new school to get New Ferry back on it's feet
Dozens were also injured. One person suffered serious and life changing injuries.
A year on Radio City News has been back to New Ferry to talk to people who were affected that night, and what work has been taking place to help the area recover.
Around 20 families, mainly living in the old Port Sunlight Grade Two listed homes are still unable to get back into their properties
Dozens of jobs were lost as a result from local businesses, many which had been in the town for years.
Susan Blakeborough owns the Flower Girl on Bebington Road in New Ferry which has been there for 40 years.
"Since the explosion, passing trade we're struggling. People don't go down this part of the road now, because they think we're closed"
"It's been a struggle. There are big plans for the Ferry so I hope it helps"
Wirral Council have been carrying out regeneration plan for the area after the blast. They have spent over £350'000 on clearing the site and supporting local businesses affected.
The Government said earlier this year that they couldn't provide financial support
In July last year the Department for Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, wrote to the Council saying government policy was to not provide financial assistance for “incidents of the size and impact of New Ferry”.
Wirral South MP Alison McGovern said: "We're not talking about massive sums, maybe £10m. You couldn't even build a new school for that."
"Just an injection of that sort of capital meant that we could have got New Ferry rebuilt"
You can listen to our special documentary New Ferry One Year On on Radio City Talk at 9pm