THE man leading New Ferry's recovery says business owners and residents are looking positively to the future as they start rebuilding their lives after last month's devastating gas explosion.

David Ball, Wirral's assistant director of environmental services, told the Globe this morning that progress is being made on determining the future of some of the most badly damaged buildings after the blast of Saturday, March 25.

Walking around the site, it is clear just how far the recovery process has come since last month's disaster.

The rubble has long been cleared, homes are being repaired and fences emblazoned with signs warning Danger - unstable buildings, keep out! stand on pavements in front of the long-established business premises that may have to come down.

But there is positive news.

Property owners and their representatives have been told that properties at 1-9 Underley Terrace, 2-8 Boundary Road and 45 -55 Bebington Road will be repaired. The next steps for properties at 56-74 Bebington Road are still to be decided.

Further discussions are on-going with owners and insurance companies and there are plans to meet again in mid-May to discuss this.

Discussions are also underway about how best to repair the damage caused to surrounding roads and street furniture - and when to carry out the work.

Mr Ball told the Globe that work and the logistics of the demolition process will need to be considered as part of an overall programme.

He added: "We had a meeting last Friday with insurance companies and owners of some of the properties affected.

"In relation to the properties that are more badly affected, from the Chinese restaurant to Griffiths the butchers, there will be a meeting on May 12, because their owners wanted to bring their own insurance companies and advisers to have a look at the details.

"But our view, and we've given this to the owners, is that the properties are in such poor condition caused by the blast that we think a number of these properties will have to be demolished.

"We just don't think they can be repaired".

The council took control of the site on April 6 as the evidence-gathering stage of the investigation finished.

Since then the area has been cleared of debris and the condition of surrounding buildings assessed.

Where it has been safe to do so, residents, tenants and business owners have been allowed back in to their buildings to get personal possessions or to retrieve salvageable business equipment.

Mr Ball said: "Our view hasn't significantly changed over the past couple of weeks.

"Clearly, we want to work with the owners and insurance companies here.

"They needed time to make their own assessments of the buildings".

Looking to future, he continued: "Some of the business owners have already made plans to open at other vacant premises in New Ferry, which is very positive.

"There are other businesses who are thinking about the future and whether the buildings stay up or come down will be fundamental in what they decide.

"We will support them".

"We've got a number of residents affected by the explosion and a number of those have been already been re-housed.

"Some are staying in temporary accommodation until they find out what will happen to their properties.

"Again, we will work with all, as best we can, to help them look forward positively to the future".

The blast site and immediate area remained within a cordon for more than a week as Merseyside Police, Fire & Rescue Service, Wirral Council, the Health and Safety Inspectorate, and National Grid carried out investigations.

Investigations on site have now concluded and police are continuing to work with specialists to identify the cause of the explosion.

The latest of the ongoing community meetings will be held this evening, Wednesday, May 3, at 5.30pm in St Mark’s Church Hall.