Rochdale Boroughwide Housing helping those affected by Heywood explosion

Explosion, Crown Road, Heywood

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) offered help to those who were affected by the explosion in Heywood on Thursday (30 May).

Following the incident, which saw twenty families evacuated from their homes, RBH provided emergency accommodation for seven households whilst the remaining households found accommodation with family or friends.

RBH is ensuring all affected tenants have somewhere safe to stay over the bank holiday weekend.

In a statement, RBH said: “Following the incident at Crown Road in Heywood last night teams of RBH employees have worked tirelessly to support tenants with assistance from a range of other agencies and individuals.

“We can confirm that the current position is that emergency accommodation has been arranged for the bank holiday weekend for two households from the directly affected block.

“In addition support and assistance has been provided to tenants in adjoining homes with all but two tenants being able to return to their homes.  A number of tenants have however chosen to temporarily stay with relatives and friends.

“Contractors will be on site later this afternoon to make safe the structure of the directly affected homes to allow investigations to continue into the incident and if possible to allow tenants of the homes to access personal belongings.

“RBH teams will be available over the weekend to provide active support, assistance and reassurance for tenants in the neighbourhood.”

One man had to be rescued and twenty families had to be evacuated following the explosion yesterday evening. The explosion, which occurred at around 8:30pm, blew the gable end out of a flat on Crown Road and brought the roof structure down.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion is currently under way.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/95542/heywood-explosion-one-man-rescued-20-families-evacuated