Bermondsey MP Simon Hughes calls for London-wide plan to deal with further bombs after WWII device removed

Hughes, who has been keeping residents informed of the bomb through his website, praised the work carried out by “hundreds” in disarming the bomb, which was found on a building site in Bermondsey, near Tower Bridge, on Monday. 

 

The 1,000lb Second World War bomb was removed from the site on Grange Walk, in south London, and taken to a quarry in Kent, where it will be destroyed in a controlled explosion. Hundreds of residents within a 200-metre blast zone were evacuated during the operation.

 

But he also warned that with the level of regeneration taking place in the capital, “more bombs like this will be discovered” and urged London's 33 councils, the GLA, the army and emergency services to put together a “clear plan” for the future. 

 

The justice minister and Liberal Democrat MP told the Standard:  “There was a lot of fantastic work done by hundreds of people. But it’s clear that with the continued regeneration of London more bombs like this will be discovered.

 

"There are lessons to be learned from what’s happened. We need a communication system so that people know how frequently updates will be given and through what channels.

 

"There were some issues with some residents understanding whether they could return to their homes, and we need to understand the contingency plans so that people without accommodation can be found somewhere to sleep sooner.

 

"We need a clear pan-London plan drawn up with the GLA and the 33 London councils, the Army and emergency services so everyone is clear what should be done if this happens again."