Greater Manchester Police is handing over control of the cordon around houses damaged in an explosion in Shaw to Oldham Council.

Crime Scene Investigators have concluded their investigations and police formally handed control of the scene to Oldham Council at 11am this morning, Thursday 5 July 2011.

Several properties have suffered significant damage, including numbers 7, 9 and 11 Buckley Street, which are all but demolished.

Divisional Commander of Oldham, Chief Superintendent Tim Forber, said: “The police investigation at the scene is now complete and we are handing over control of the cordon, which surrounds the most severely damaged properties, to the council.

“I want to reassure residents that this does not signify the end of our involvement in this incident. We have made a commitment to do all we can to help displaced residents and those most affected and that very much still stands.

“While we will no longer have officers on the cordon we will continue to have a presence in the area and will be working closely with the council to keep residents and property safe.

“It is important to stress that a number of houses remain structurally unsafe and dangerous and anyone found trying to gain access to those houses within the cordon will be dealt with by the police.”

Oldham Council is working around the clock to provide financial assistance and advice to residents affected by last week’s explosion in Shaw.

To date around £33,000 has either been dispensed in cash advances or agreed in principle as payments to be made from the official Oldham Distress Fund.

In the immediate aftermath of the blast the Local Authority paid out almost £7,000 to 35 residents in the form of interest-free emergency cash advances.

Trustees of the Oldham Distress Fund are also meeting regularly to act on new applications as they are received.

They have already agreed payments in principle of about £16,000 to 30 indiviual applicants. These will be made direct to residents this week subject to final receipt of any outstanding information required, such as bank account details.

A further 23 applications worth a total of about £10,500 have also been approved in principle by the Distress Fund Trustees.

Many of these have completed formal application forms and will be considered at today’s Trustees meeting whilst some others await further clarification from applicants.

The Council would like to stress that both the cash advances and applications to the Distress Fund remain open to people affected by this incident.

You can apply for either by visiting the Advice Centre at Shaw Library on Farrow Street East in Shaw. This facility is open between Noon and 4pm, and 6 to 8pm each day.

Also Residents can get confidential one-to-one assistance here about the financial support available, plus advice on housing, welfare benefits, insurance and finance matters.

“A range of local organisations, community groups and partners have been extremely busy organising new fundraising events for the Distress Fund and I would like to thank them all for their inspirational work,” said local Lib Dem councillor Howard Sykes.

“To date we have had around £7,000 in public donations to the Distress Fund and we know that plenty remains to come through from future fundraising events and cheques that need to clear.”

You can donate directly to the Oldham Distress Fund in a range of ways.

To find out more – and to donate online – visit Oldham Council’s website at www.oldham.gov.uk

You can also call 0161 770 6611 during the opening hours of 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday) and 9am to 1pm (Saturday only).

Anyone wishing to make a donation via Internet Banking will need the following details of the Distress Fund account:

Bank: Cooperative Bank
Account Name: OMBC Oldham Distress Fund 225145
Sort Code: 08-92-33
Account No: 61715512

Cash or cheque donations can also be made in person in Oldham town centre by visiting the Co-operative Bank or Debenhams in the Spindles Shopping centre, and at Shaw and Crompton Parish Council.

Cheques – payable to the ‘Oldham Distress Fund’ – can also be posted to: Andy Cooper, Finance Services Team, Oldham Council, Level 14, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1UG.

“I am also asking that more local donation points be created, in response to request from local residents,” added Councillor Sykes.

Temporary traffic signals – one day only, in connection with work on electricity supply cables.

As a result of the explosion on Buckley Street Shaw on Tuesday Greater Manchester Police together with Fire Service and Oldham Council placed a cordon on the affected locality.

The original cordon on Tuesday meant that around 270 properties were displaced
On Tuesday night the number reduced to 143.

Currently there are 65 properties that cannot access their home.

They hope to reduce this to 50 today.

This will mean that by the end of the 4th day residents will have returned to 220 properties.

Unfortunately those houses at the centre of the explosion are contained within the crime scene and all still require careful assessment prior to any decision being made regarding the structural safety.

For any information regarding the current status of your affected property please contact Oldham Council on 0161 770 7770.

Greater Manchester Police would urge anyone with information regarding the incident on Buckley Street to come forward and speak to the police on 0161 856 8959 or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Oldham Council is making final arrangements for some residents affected by the Shaw explosion to return to their homes this afternoon.

Most – but not all – residents with homes on Oak Street and Gordon Street are to be given access today as the first part of a phased process.

Many of these properties will still be without utility services at this stage.

Oldham Council is working closely with utilities firms to restore these as soon as possible.

Residents can collect items they wish to take away or, if they wish, reoccupy their homes.

If residents in these properties have already contacted Oldham Council with their details then a Housing Officer will be in touch with them shortly. They will arrange to meet residents and take them to their home.

Unless you are contacted to meet a Housing Officer, residents are asked not to approach the cordoned area as you will not be able to gain access.

If you are a resident wanting to access your home – but have not yet contacted Oldham Council direct – then you should either: Call 0161 770 7770 and give them your details; or visit the Rest Centre at Crompton House school today.