VILLIERS CALLS ON NATIONAL GRID TO COME TO EAST BARNET TO FACE RESIDENTS CAMPAIGNING FOR EXTRA COMPENSATION FOR CHRISTMAS GAS CRISIS

At a meeting today in Blueberry's Restaurant, East Barnet Road, Theresa Villiers gave her support to residents campaigning for improved compensation levels for those whose gas supplies were cut off during the disuption to services over the Christmas period. She also promised to contact National Grid and Veolia Water setting out the points made at the meeting and asking the two companies to send representatives to attend a public meeting with residents and answer their questions on how the gas crisis was handled and the compensation being offered.

Around 40 residents attended the meeting, which was organised by East Barnet resident, Bernard Walsh, who has been highlighting local concerns around the recent gas problems.

The meeting was also attended by Cllr Joanna Tambourides and Conservative Candidate for East Barnet ward, Barry Evangeli, as well as representatives of the local police team.

Following the meeting, Theresa said: "This was a really useful opportunity for residents to express their concerns about the disruption that caused so many problems during the Christmas season."

"A number of positive comments were made regarding the professionalism of the engineers and other staff drafted in to deal with the crisis who clearly behaved with consideration and kindness and worked very hard to try to resolve matters as quickly as possible. "

"However, real concern was expressed that a standard £30 per day rate would not cover all the costs residents had incurred as a result of the crisis. It was pointed out that a simplistic flat rate daily payment failed to distinguish between different sizes of property affected. For example, the extra bills faced by a family in a larger property would be considerably more than for a single person living in a small flat."

"Residents also make the point that the compensation rate takes no account of the fact that the cost of heating from electrical fan heaters was high because of the sub-zero temperatures prevailing at the time the incident took place."

"Others made it clear that they were aggrieved that compensation was only awarded for days where the supply was cut off for 24 hours. They felt that they should be compensated for part days of disruption, particularly where reconnection occurred late in the evening. They also felt it was unfair that compensation was not granted for days when they were connected to gas supplies but the pressure was so low that they could not cook. As one lady pointed out, it is not easy to cook a turkey when your oven keeps going out. She had to use her neighbour’s oven for her Christmas lunch."

"A great deal of concern was expressed that National Grid’s did not to circulate leaflets or letters at the start of the crisis letting people know what was happening and telling them about the incident centre at St Mary’s. I understand from the council that the Gold Group had tasked National Grid with doing this but they failed to do so."

"I am contacting both Veolia and National Grid to ask them to send representatives to Barnet to respond on these and other serious concerns my constituents want to put to them about the crisis and the compensation offered.