Tempers flair over ‘Death Towers’ investigation
19/06/2009
Angry residents of the Bedfont Lakes estate were given assurances at a heated meeting on Monday evening that extensive investigations were being carried out into the carbon monoxide leak that poisoned two of its residents, leaving one dead and the other in a coma.
Andrew Verrall-Withers, from the Health & Safety Executive, faced frantic residents desperate for more information about the ongoing investigation, which has been running since February last year.
Mr Verrall-Withers told the residents: ‘I’m not saying we don’t make mistakes. It’s important to find out what happened but it also gives us an opportunity for justice to be served. We are trying to learn from this so it doesn’t happen to anyone else.’
DS Dan Brown from the serious crime squad, which is leading the investigation into Elouise Littlewood’s death, said one man had been arrested as part of the manslaughter inquiry so far. But he revealed that others were also being investigated.
Mr Verrall-Withers added: ‘It must be frustrating - you want to get all the answers. The bottom line is, we haven’t got all the answers today but we will get them one day.’
Residents also directed anger at Andy Belton, commercial services director with Notting Hill, and told him they were considering legal action. Mr Belton told the packed meeting that Notting Hill had no legal obligation to buy back their properties.
Shared homeowner Bhupen Jadau said the estate had become known as ‘Death Towers’.
