Kincaidston residents brand HSE explosion report 'pitiful' as questions remain unanswered
HSE say the investigation into the Kincaidston explosion has concluded and 'no further action will be taken'.
Residents in Kincaidston are describing the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) report into an explosion last year as ‘pitiful’.
On October 18, 2021, a gas explosion in a house in Gorse Park, Ayr left a family of four in hospital, and surrounding houses and vehicles completely flattened or badly damaged.
Now, nearly 10 months on from the devastating incident HSE have alerted locals to inform them that no further action will be taken, and the investigation has concluded.
Despite the investigation coming to an end, residents in the area are still no closer to finding out what caused the blast after their hopes of answers were scuppered by the HSE statement.
A HSE spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with those impacted by this incident.
"Having investigated it fully, the HSE will be taking no further action."
Residents will rally for answers
Robert Dunn was one of the residents on hand that night last October as he opened the Kincaidston community centre for those affected by it.
He’s been on the hunt for answers from HSE since the explosion. He’s been telling West FM
He said: “I felt sick last night. I just felt for the residents, especially the ones that were directly involved.
“You have four houses up there that have been totally flattened. A family who has catastrophic injuries, and HSE are coming out with no answers, and I just think it is a pitiful excuse of a finding.
“I can see all the residents rallying round and we are going to pursue an answer.
“There must be a full report somewhere, they can’t come out with a two-line statement like that and say we don’t know what’s happened.”
Insurance woes
The blast from the explosion was heard by people who lived miles away from the area, and many residents who lived nearby woke up to see the explosion had damaged either their vehicles or buildings.
There is now concerns that some residents wont be eligible to receive a pay-out from their insurance due to the full investigatory report not being published by HSE.
Mr Dunn added: “If I was the insurance company, I wouldn’t be paying out on a two-line statement that’s for sure. Insurance companies need that full report.
It’s a financial loss for everyone involved, families have lost their homes, others have lost their livelihood. Again it is just a pitiful loophole.”
Following the explosion, Scottish Gas Networks upgraded the gas network in the Kincaidston estate and said all underground pipework there is now new plastic pipe.