Mike Penning has condemned BP's decision to re-open as "arrogant" when the results of the investigation are still not known and many residents and businesses have yet to receive compensation.

Responding to the announcement by BP that it is to re-open its depot at Buncefield and that thousands of local residents and businesses are to receive an explanatory leaflet, Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning said:

”It is extremely arrogant of BP to re-open this site while many residents are still awaiting the results of compensation claims. It is, at best, insensitive for the oil companies to ignore the plight and concerns of my constituents in their rush for profits.

“Further I would say it is extremely foolish to go ahead before the Buncefield Inquiry has reported. We don’t even know yet whether anyone is to be prosecuted over the explosion.

“I acknowledge that the disaster did not occur on BP’s site, but I believe my constituents need to be reassured about the causes of this disaster and that sufficient safety measures are put in place before any fuels are stored at the location again. They will not get that reassurance if the oil companies push ahead before the Inquiry has reported its results.

“They are putting profits before the interests of my constituents.”