Following last week’s gas explosion and fire on Burke Close, Roehampton, residents have now received a letter from Wandsworth Council that seems more focused on distancing the authority from responsibility than offering clarity or support.
The letter, dated 3 April, states that the fire affected three freehold properties and that the issues were “not related to council properties.” While technically true, this feels like a diversion from the broader concerns. Most of the Lennox Estate — including Burke Close — is council-owned and managed. Even if the specific properties involved are privately owned, the explosion raises serious questions about the state of infrastructure across the estate as a whole.
It’s also worth noting the wider context. Just a month before the incident, Wandsworth Council was publicly faulted [pdf] by the Regulator of Social Housing for failing to meet national standards in how it maintains and oversees its housing stock. That report pointed to systemic issues, including poor risk management and a lack of adequate inspections. When a gas explosion and fire follow so soon after, it’s only natural for residents to question how safe the rest of the estate really is — and how confident we can be in the council’s oversight.
Devastation
Reporting from Putney.news over the past week has shown the scale of the damage and the distress caused to residents. Some had to be evacuated. Some homes were badly damaged. And there remains a great deal of uncertainty about what happens next for those affected.
Rather than drawing a line under the matter, the council’s response so far only adds to the sense that these concerns are being minimised. A serious incident took place, one that clearly shook the community. Instead of treating it as a narrowly defined event involving only private homeowners, the council should recognise it as a warning sign — one that deserves a thorough, transparent response.
At a minimum, residents need to know what steps are being taken to ensure gas safety across all housing on the estate, and how the council plans to support anyone displaced or affected. These aren’t unreasonable expectations. They’re the basics of responsible management.
In the end, this isn’t about technical ownership. It’s about public trust — and whether the people living on Lennox Estate feel that those responsible for their homes and safety are taking that responsibility seriously.
According to the chair of the burke close residents association it is just a problem with gas and electricity company and nothing to do with Wandsworth council so you must be not understanding as well