Image caption Several buildings collapsed in the blast

A shop owner accused of causing an explosion that destroyed a number of buildings and left 31 people injured has appeared in court.

Two people were seriously hurt in the blast in New Ferry in March 2017.

Pascal Blasio, 56, of Gillingham, Kent, appeared at Wirral Magistrates' Court charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life.

Mr Blasio, the owner of a furniture shop on the explosion site, will appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 2 May.

About 20 members of the public attended the short hearing, where Mr Blasio was released on unconditional bail.

Representatives for company Contract Natural Gas, based in Harrogate, Yorkshire, also appeared in court charged with failing to discharge general health and safety duty to a person other than an employee.

The company is accused of failing to ensure the redundant live gas service to the Homes in Style store was disconnected after a meter was removed.

No pleas were entered to the charges.</s>A man charged over a huge gas explosion which devastated a Wirral town is set to make his first appearance in court this afternoon.

Pascal George Francois Blasio, 56, was arrested last May as part of an investigation into an explosion in New Ferry on March 25, 2017.

Pascal Blasio - who now lives in Gillingham, Kent, is charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life.

The details of the charge include that on March 25 2017 in Birkenhead. he ‘unlawfully and maliciously caused by an explosive substance an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.’

Mr Blasio is listed as the director of Homes In Style LTD, a furniture store based at the address at the centre of the explosion on March 25, 2017.

The discount furniture store and a dance studio at the same address - owned by a separate business - were destroyed.

Two people were severely injured in the explosion, with around 30 others described as “walking wounded”.

Contract Natural Gas Limited (CNG), an independent gas supplier which provides gas exclusively to business customers, has also been charged with an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for failing to discharge general health and safety duty to a person other than an employee.

The details of the charge being that between 22/8/2012 and 25/3/2017 in Birkenhead, they failed to conduct their undertaking to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of persons not in its employment, including Lewis Jones, by failing to ensure that the redundant live gas service to 43 Bebington Road was disconnected following removing the meter.

The ECHO understands that a representative for CNG will also appear in court today.

No action will be taken against a 63 year-old man from the Flintshire area who was also arrested in connection with the incident.

A 65-year-old man from Cheshire was notified in July 2017 that he was no longer under police investigation in relation to the case.

Today, Pascal Blasio is set to appear at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on Chester Street, Birkenhead charged with the offences.

We’ll be bringing you live updates from the court as he makes his first appearance.</s>A FURNITURE shop owner appeared in court charged with causing a gas explosion which devastated a Wirral town and injured more than 30 people.

Pascal George Francois Blasio appeared at Wirral Magistrates’ Court in Birkenhead on Wednesday April 4 charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life or injure property.

Blasio, who wore a brown leather aviator-style jacket with sheepskin lining, blue jeans and a stripy scarf, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

The 56-year-old, of Gillingham in Kent was granted unconditional bail and was ordered to attend Liverpool Crown Court on May 2.

He appeared in front of a packed courtroom - with more than 20 people in the public gallery - including Lewis Jones who was seriously injured in the blast in New Ferry on March 25, 2017.

Mr Jones was supported by close friends and family.

Representatives for company Contract National Gas LTD also appeared in court, charged with failing to discharge general health and safety duty to a person other than an employee.

The company is accused of failing to ensure the redundant live gas service to the furniture store was disconnected after a meter was removed.

District Judge John McGarva also referred their case to Liverpool Crown Court on May 2.

Mr Blasio is listed as the director of Homes In Style LTD, a furniture store based at the address at the centre of the explosion.

The discount furniture store and a dance studio at the same address - owned by a separate business - were destroyed.

Two people were severely injured in the incident, with around 30 others described as “walking wounded”.

Neither Blasio or the gas company representatives entered any pleas.

Wirral South MP Alison McGovern has called for “urgent” regeneration of the area since the explosion more than a year ago.

In a statement released on the anniversary of the blast, she said: “New Ferry is in urgent need of regeneration and there are still a lot of empty buildings blighting the town.

“However, I do believe that with the determination that has been shown by everybody in New Ferry that we will get there and it will come back from this stronger if we continue to pull together.”

Regeneration plans for the area were submitted to the Government by Wirral Council in December in the hope of securing financial support for the scheme and the authority has since been asked to provide more information on the level of resources needed.

A council spokesman said: “We have received no guarantees from the Government that they are able to provide any financial assistance, but council officers, the council leader, the local MP and the Metro Mayor are all committed to maintaining dialogue with ministers on this crucial issue and the council’s own commitment to helping to build a better New Ferry in the short and long term is unwavering.”

He said the council had spent £350,000 so far on the recovery effort following the explosion.</s>A furniture shop owner has appeared in court charged with causing an explosion which injured more than 30 people.

Pascal Blasio, 56, of Gillingham in Kent, appeared at Wirral Magistrates' Court in Birkenhead on Wednesday charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life or injure property after the blast in New Ferry on March 25 last year.

Blasio, director of the Homes in Style shop on Bebington Road, New Ferry, was given unconditional bail and ordered to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on May 2.

Pascal Blasio of Gillingham, Kent, leaving Wirral Magistrates' Court in Birkenhead charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life or injure property after a blast in New Ferry on March 25 last year. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.

He wore a brown leather jacket with a sheepskin collar and a striped scarf and spoke to confirm his name and address.

About 20 members of the public were also in court for the short hearing, including Lewis Jones, 21, who was seriously injured in the explosion.

Representatives for company Contract Natural Gas, based in Harrogate, Yorkshire, also appeared in court charged with failing to discharge general health and safety duty to a person other than an employee.

The company is accused of failing to ensure the redundant live gas service to the furniture store was disconnected after a meter was removed.

District Judge John McGarva also sent the case to Liverpool Crown Court on May 2.

No pleas were entered to the charges.

Thirty-three people were injured, two seriously, and several buildings collapsed in the explosion.

The blast, which happened at 9.15pm on a Saturday, destroyed a dance studio where children had been just an hour before and blew in the front of a Chinese restaurant.

Wirral South MP Alison McGovern has called for "urgent" regeneration of the area since the explosion more than a year ago.

In a statement released on the anniversary of the blast, she said: "New Ferry is in urgent need of regeneration and there are still a lot of empty buildings blighting the town.

Regeneration plans for the area were submitted to the Government by Wirral Council in December in the hope of securing financial support for the scheme and the authority has since been asked to provide more information on the level of resources needed.

A council spokesman said: "We have received no guarantees from the Government that they are able to provide any financial assistance, but council officers, the council leader, the local MP and the Metro Mayor are all committed to maintaining dialogue with ministers on this crucial issue and the council's own commitment to helping to build a better New Ferry in the short and long term is unwavering."

He said the council had spent Â£350,000 so far on the recovery effort following the explosion.
Pascal Blasio makes an initial court appearance charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life in connection to a 2017 blast that injured 31 in New Ferry, England.