A RISK assessor considering an application to resurrect Buncefield Oil Depot says there is no clear way of reducing the danger of a further, potentially fatal, explosion.

The Hemel Hempstead oil depot could rise from the ashes if St Albans District Council approves a bid to redevelop storage depots destroyed during the blast in 2005. Residents living near to the plant object to an explosive site of such close proximity to their homes, and in a planning statement the district council's resilience manager Ian Skelt, who helps the authority plan its response to an emergency, did little to allay their fears.

In a planning document Mr Skelt stated: "The redevelopment of the site will also mean that current standards of build and safety standards will be imposed. The density of the buildings around the site is low as a result the impact of another explosion will be low although this does have potential for fatalities and serious structural damage.

"From the emergency planning perspective there is no clear way of reducing the risk further, increasing controls or reducing the impact of an incident should it occur. Equally there is no clear objection to the operation of this strategically important site as it is a apart of an existing operation and is supervised and enforced to the highest standards."

The explosion, the biggest ever in peacetime Europe, injured about 40 people and cost millions of pounds in damage to local homes and businesses.

Oil companies West London Pipeline Agency Ltd and United Kingdom Oil Pipeline Ltd have submitted an application to both St Albans District Council and Dacorum Borough Council, which share responsibility for the site, to remove the existing damaged structure and replace it with storage tanks containing aviation fuel.

But residents have also objected to the plant on the grounds it would be visually intrusive, increase noise and air pollution, and damage the landscape.

A planning officer has recommended the application is approved.