Blast street to rise from the rubble

WORK in progress . . . builders continue to make repairs to homes in Buckley Street

THE rebuild of blast-ravaged Buckley Street is set to begin as Shaw finally moves on from the massive gas explosion.

The first planning application has been submitted for the reconstruction of one of the three-bedroom terraced properties, which was badly damaged in the blast that killed toddler Jamie Heaton on June 26.

Shaw and Crompton Parish Council has unanimously recommended plans to rebuild No 15 Buckley Street. Oldham Council planning committee will make the ultimate decision.

Chair of the parish planning committee, Councillor Chris Stevens, said: “We all knew the circumstances of this application and we were all pleased to see that things are moving on.

“We need to encourage rebuilding. It’s good to see a planning application on that street.”

Numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 Buckley Street have been demolished because they were considered beyond reasonable repair.

Some of their owners have settled with their insurers and moved to other areas, while some insurers are still considering the future of some the remaining properties.

Some damaged houses have been repaired.

The Oldham Distress Fund has now reached £300,000, of which £230,000 has been committed to help people affected by the devastation.

So far the fund has helped 91 households to cope with the impact of the explosion.

Applications to the distress fund, continue to be approved by trustees and used to help pay for repairs.


A HERO policeman who risked his life to evacuate homes following the Shaw gas blast has been presented with a bravery award.
PC Damieon Pickles, from Alkrington, was one of the first officers on the scene and ran into the rubble to try and save two-year-old Jamie Heaton.

The father-of-two, who joined the police 10 years ago, was presented with the Chief Constable’s Award of High Commendation — the highest a police force can bestow on an officer.