Legionella families quiz council

The outbreak was traced to the Forum 28 centre

Families of victims of the 2002 outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Cumbria have expressed their fury towards the council involved.

There were angry scenes at Barrow Council, when a petition was handed in calling on the chief executive to quit.

Seven people died and 200 became ill in the Barrow outbreak, which was traced to Forum 28 council-run arts centre.

A council architect was cleared of manslaughter, but fined along with the council for health and safety breaches.

Almost 3,000 people signed the petition calling for council chief executive Tom Campbell to resign.

The petition was organised by the daughter of one of the victims.

More than 80 members of the public turned up at the council meeting on Tuesday night, but were told they could not speak, as formal procedures had not been carried out.

There is a fantastic credibility gap the council needs to fill Jim Hamezian, People's Party councillor

Following loud protests, the meeting was suspended for ten minutes.

People affected by the outbreak were then told they could take part in an informal question and answer session with councillors afterwards.

However Jim Hamezian, the People's Party councillor who handed in the petition, said the council had missed a golden opportunity to repair its reputation.

"There is a fantastic credibility gap the council needs to fill. Tonight was the opportunity to do so and they didn't take it."

Internal investigation

Bill Merewood, whose wife Christine died in the outbreak, said he took comfort at being told their views would be taken into consideration during a promised internal investigation, but concerns remained.

"We are hoping that it will not just be information from previous hearings and court cases, but that they will be speaking to those who made the errors.

"Now councillors have heard our feelings they may consider the chief executive's position.

Council leader Bill Joughin had earlier said he felt Mr Campbell should keep his job.

He said: "I don't think I'll ever get over the circumstances that caused such a tragedy.

"We tried to enable victims of it to come to some conclusion, though I realise that when you lose someone close to you look for someone to blame, and unfortunately that is not always the case."