Gas blast fund hits £250,000

RUBBLE is removed from the blast site

DONATIONS to the Oldham Distress Fund are set to top a quarter of a million pounds as the community rallies round victims of the Shaw gas explosion.

Pledges have flooded in from people moved by the scenes of devastation in Buckley Street that claimed the life of two-year-old Jamie Heaton and left Andrew Partington (27) in hospital with serious burns.

Forever Manchester, which looks after the Greater Manchester Disaster Relief Fund, yesterday granted £125,000 to Oldham Council’s official Oldham Distress Fund. That came on top of the council donating £100,000 to the fund.

Donations from the public have reached around £7,000 after a week — but that figure will soon soar as money from many events — from sponsored bike rides and walks to fundraising afternoons — comes in.

Only yesterday, amateur theatre company the Congress Players added £2,500 to the total with a special performance of its show “Bad Girls” on until Saturday at Shaw’s Playhouse 2, a match-donation from Shaw firm JD Williams, and a raffle.

Almost 40 homes in the streets around the blast remain cordoned off; 11 will be demolished, putting those next to them in possible danger unless they can be made stable.

The Forever Manchester fund is used to support the victims of large-scale and personal disaster by helping to cover the cost of immediate relief.

Oldham Council leader Councillor Jim McMahon said: “The total now available stands at around £235,000 — a remarkable sum, and we know there’s more to come.

“This a fantastic achievement but we still need more — dozens of properties have been affected and many residents have incurred considerable losses.”

Oldham Council has so far distributed around £33,000. Trustees of the Oldham Distress Fund meet regularly to assess new applications.

To apply to the Distress Fund or get assistance visit the Advice Centre at Shaw Library, Farrow Street East.

To donate:

*visit Oldham Council’s website at www.oldham.gov.uk

*Call 0161 770 6611 during the opening hours of 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday) and 9am to 1pm (Saturday only).

*Via Internet Banking through the 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.






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