Petition launched by family after house was destroyed
Hundreds of people are backing a Halifax family’s call for a change in the law after their home was flattened by a gas explosion.
Gemma McLaughlin has launched a petition to Parliamenturgingcurrentgassafety regulationrulestobechanged after her parents’ house in Illingworth was destroyed.
Gwen and Liam McLaughlin’s
home on Green Lane was demolishedbytheblastinDecember 2020 which – according to one neighbour – “lifted the roof away” from the house where they had lived for 15 years.
Mrs McLaughlin was seriously injured, with burns all over her body. She was put in aninducedcomaandsuffered a stroke which impacted the whole right-hand side of her body.
Gemma McLaughlin fought for three years for a personal injury claim against
Northern Gas Networks on behalf of her parents - but has been told the case has been closed.
The reason given, she says, is that because there were gas works being carried out nearby at the time of the blast, the utilities firm is not liable.
A spokesperson for Northern Gas Networks said: “We have every sympathy for the McLaughlin family but we cannot comment on any ongoing proceedings which may be related to the case.”
She is now desperate to get the matter debated in Parliament to change this rule.
The petition is asking for The Pipelines Safety Regulations1996tobeamendedtoremovethedefenceforfailingto ensurethatapipelineismaintained in an efficient state, in efficientworkingorderandin good repair.
"Currently it is a defence for failing to comply with the duty in regulation 13 to maintain pipelines where, for example, the pipe was included within an approved programme which was not then due for completion,” says the petition.
"We think this is unfair, and can prevent people who are affected by poorly maintained pipelines from seeking recourse.”
More than 1,300 people have signed the petition so far but for Parliament to respond, that number must reach 10,000 and for it to be considered for debate in Parliament, 100,000.
To sign the petition visit https://petition.parliament. uk/petitions/658025