Support continues to be offered to the four properties directly impacted by the Keyham bomb incident by Plymouth City Council.
Following the safe detonation of the bomb on the 23 February, life returned back to normal relatively swiftly for many in the Keyham area.
However, for residents at four properties on St Michael Avenue, the damage caused by the bomb investigation and removal works, meant that additional support was put in place from Wednesday 21 February and has continued to help the homeowners return to normality.
Throughout the incident, council liaison officers worked with the residents of the four properties to help support them during the bomb removal process – this includes providing them with a named council officer who was (and still is) available around the clock and offering each household a removal service so their property could be removed and put into storage for safe keeping.
Following the removal of the bomb, a council liaison officer immediately spoke to the residents and over the initial weekend, another council officer visited St Michael Avenue in person to discuss what further support would be needed. Subsequently, the Council arranged for the removal of the large sandbags and piles of rubble on the Monday, followed by a full sweep and clean of the roads and pavement.
Council officers have kept almost in daily contact with the residents and a number of offers of direct or indirect support have been arranged. This includes:
- Offering one household a two-day deep clean service
- Funding a carpet and sofa clean for one household
- Facilitating a meeting with the army to understand the extent and impact of the damage
- Providing vouchers to replace some of the essential broken items in people’s homes e.g. hoover
- Offered food vouchers
- Repairing broken guttering and cleaning out blocked drains full of sand
- Arranging for the fire service to urgently redirect a broken pipe to help avoid flooding
- Arranging a contractor to visit one of the households to repair a damaged window
- Linking-up the four households with local charity the Wolseley Trust to help with any wellbeing support that may be needed as they continue through the recovery.
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “Luckily for the majority of residents in Keyham, the disruption caused by the bomb was short-lived. However, for a small number of households, the army did leave a lot of damage in their wake.
“Whilst this damage was not caused by us, the Council has bent over backwards to help support the residents. With one officer working round the clock to provide caring support and try and help them establish what needs to happen next and how, whilst they wait to hear from their insurance companies.
“There has been a vicious rumour online that officers have not been supporting the residents, alleging that people have been left in the lurch. This is very hurtful for the council officers, as it could not be further from the truth.
“Named officers have been available 24 hours a day for those four households.
“I know that residents have been appreciative of this support and I believe one even sent flowers to thank one of the liaison officers for being so helpful during this difficult time.”
For residents in the wider Keyham area, who are currently struggling with their mental health following the incident, please call: NHS Talking Therapies Plymouth on 01752 435419. Lines are open Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm).