Frustration mounts as families remain displaced a year after fatal gas explosion destroyed home and caused upheaval in the community.

The scene of a huge blast which left a pensioner dead and others homeless remains frozen in time one year on.

Piles of rubble still lie where homes once stood on Baberton Mains Avenue, in Edinburgh, after the explosion last December 1.

James Smith, 84, was killed in the incident while Stephanie Chapman, 43, and 54-year-old Robert Taylor were treated in hospital.

Some families are still in temporary accommodation, not knowing when they will be back in their homes.

An initial probe linked the blast to a gas installation at one of the properties although the investigation is ongoing.

Residents are becoming increasingly angry as a big chunk of the street remains inaccessible, surrounded by fencing.

Expressing her frustration with the response from the authorities, one woman mentioned, “There’s no will on anybody’s part to sort this. And that’s the annoyance for us.”

Local MSP Sue Webber expressed disappointment with the local authority’s reaction, stating, “What’s so disappointing is how the local authority then responded, with a lack of empathy and an understanding of what was going on.”

She added, “Yes, they fulfilled their statutory duties, but frankly when people’s lives are changed and shattered in an instant, you do expect more from local authorities – to go that little bit beyond their statutory duties.”

‘Families that are still in temporary accommodation or in alternative accommodation – they don’t know when they’re going to get back to their homes.’

Arthur McAnna, 84, was at home on the evening of the explosion. The retired firefighter recalled: ‘We got the full blast – it came in through the front window and we had stuff embedded in the back wall.’

He later moved in with his daughter because there had been ‘structural damage to houses all around’.

A retired couple said they had to scrap their golden anniversary plans because the explosion destroyed their savings.

Mary and Sam Porteous, both 76, had intended to travel to Australia to celebrate. But Mrs Porteous told the Edinburgh Evening News: ‘We can’t go now because all the money we needed to go is in the house.’

She added: ‘We blame the council because every time the insurer wanted to do something, the council knocked us back.

‘We’ve all got different insurers so that makes things difficult.’

However, progress could soon be made as it’s believed the houses affected could be demolished in February next year. 

The City of Edinburgh Council said the next steps are matters for residents and their insurers because the homes are private properties.

It added, however, that it is awaiting confirmation from insurance firms for works to begin by February.

Council planning convener James Dalgleish said he appreciated ‘how difficult this is for everyone involved and residents want to see the situation resolved as quickly as possible’.

He added: ‘It’s encouraging to hear that recent talks between residents and their insurance providers have been productive.’