Residents Frustrated over Poor Progress on Petrol Leak Recovery – MP to Meet Asda Boss

Published on: 28 Aug, 2024
Updated on: 28 Aug, 2024

Lord Stuart Rose (left) and Jeremy Hunt at the public meeting in July

By Martin Giles

Godalming & Ash MP Jeremy Hunt has asked for an urgent meeting with Asda chairman Lord Stuart Rose because of growing frustration in Bramley over the perceived lack of progress to fix issues connected with the underground petrol contamination in the village.

See: ‘No Quick Fix’ to Bramley’s Fuel Pollution But Asda Chairman Shows Commitment

Mr Hunt said: “I have been contacted by a growing list of frustrated Bramley residents and businesses this week as their landlines and internet connectivity continue to drop.

“This week the Jolly Farmer lost their landline to add to their list of issues they have faced because of this fuel leak. I have asked [telecoms company] Openreach to come back to me urgently with their planned solutions and workarounds for Bramley.

“I have also arranged to meet with Stuart Rose of Asda next week as we need to see greater traction on the actions raised at our last public meeting six weeks ago.”

Two of the frustrated residents who are also spokespersons for local groups Bramley Residents’ Action Group (BRAG) and Bramley Business Network (BBN) were interviewed by Dragon editor Martin Giles this afternoon (August 28). Please watch…

Local borough councillor for Bramley Jane Austin (Con) echoed their concerns saying: “Feelings are very mixed in Bramley about the reopening of the Asda store last Thursday.

Cllr Jane Austin

“While some welcome the re-opening and the signal that Bramley is ‘open for business’ for others this is an insult given the current status of the ongoing pollution and how much our local businesses and residents have suffered because of the fuel leak.

“Notwithstanding the opening, compensation discussions are progressing; local businesses are now applying to a business compensation scheme created by Asda but its not a straightforward process and the proof of its success will be in the result.

“Negotiations between Asda and Bramley Village on compensation for the community as a whole are at an early stage, but its clear Asda will need to improve their initial offer before it is acceptable to Bramley residents. Both parties are progressing in good faith.”

But a spokesperson for Asda denied any offer to residents had been made and claimed that progress was good. He said: “The work to remediate the wider village continues with good progress made in those areas within our responsibility. We will continue to update the community through the established channels.

“Regarding the question of offer of compensation being too small, I’m a touch confused as Asda has not yet made any offer of compensation to residents, so I’m not sure how an offer that doesn’t yet exist could be considered too small.

“There was no ‘vote’ on the store reopening. In a public meeting we raised the possibility of reopening the site on the 25th July, that suggestion wasn’t supported by those in the room at that time.”

The packed Bramley public meeting in July.

When reminded that Stuart Rose had himself asked for a show of hands on the issue of reopening the garage and the result had been overwhelmingly against, the Asda spokesperson said: “Following the community meeting…we met privately with a representative group – including Bramley Residents’ Action Group, the Parish Council and Bramley Business Network – to discuss both a business support scheme and a community support scheme.

“Those conversations were productive, with the Business Support Scheme now up and running and processing applications. We are awaiting feedback on the community scheme, which we expect in the coming weeks.”