• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Wandsworth homes evacuated in gas scare

February 9, 2009 - Staff

More than 60 homes were evacuated on Sunday after a gas leak was detected on Balham High Road in the early hours . Officers from the council’s emergency response team were called out after residents reported smelling gas. The alerts led to a section of Balham High Road being closed off and homes evacuated amid fears of an explosion.

The immediate area’s electricity supply was cut-off as a precaution and the  council opened the nearby Balham Leisure Centre to act as an emergency shelter for evacuees.

The council, police and fire brigade remained on high alert until Southern Gas gave the all-clear at 11.00 am and residents were allowed to return to their homes. The leak came from a section of pipe running beneath the high street. Southern Gas is still investigating the cause.

Head of Operational Services, Kevin Power, was onsite to coordinate the council’s emergency team.  He commented: “Our staff worked closely with the police and the fire brigade to ensure that the evacuation was completed quickly and calmly.

“We have tried and tested procedures for situations like this and I’m happy to say that the evacuation went very smoothly. We moved residents to the Leisure Centre where staff were on hand to assist them and to make sure they had a hot drink, something to eat and somewhere to rest.

“Once the gas company repaired the leak our team returned the relieved residents to their homes.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.