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Howdon gas holder

One of the Howdon gas holders

The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing over £680,000 to safely dismantle and remove its gas holder tanks in Howdon, Newcastle upon Tyne.

 

The major project, which began on Monday 21 March 2016, will take 32 weeks to complete and be carried out in conjunction with specialist partner, G O’Brien Group.

 

For around 100 years gas holders were a vital part of the local gas supply system, responsible for supplying gas to thousands of people across the country.  In more recent years the gas holders have been used to bolster the network’s gas supplies during colder weather, and at peak times in the early evenings.  However, advances in technology and the enhanced capability of the modern-day gas network, mean that gas holders are no longer in use.

 

NGN is committed to taking down its gas holders in an environmentally responsible way, by recycling as many materials from the site as possible.

 

Mark Johnson, from NGN’s Major Projects team said: “The decision has been made to dismantle the gas holders at Howdon as they are no longer in use and are costly to maintain.  We’ll be working with a specialist contractor to carry out the work in a safe and environmentally responsible way.

 

“We know how important these structures are to communities and we held an engagement session with local residents in March which was very well attended. It gave people the opportunity to find out more about our work to deconstruct the holders and share their memories before they disappear from the skyline.”

 

NGN’s local community artist has also been capturing the structures through art, painting and sketching the industrial structures before they are removed from the skyline.

 

NGN is encouraging people to share their memories of the Howdon gas holders through its ‘Gas Holder Memories’ campaign by emailing gasholdermemories@northerngas.co.uk, using #gasholdermemories on Facebook.com/northerngasnetworks and Twitter @NGNgas or writing to: Northern Gas Networks, 1st Floor, 1 Emperor Way, Doxford International Business Park, Sunderland, SR3 3XR.

 

NGN is aiming to demolish 23 of the region’s gas holders by 2021 as part of continued investment in modernising the gas network.

 

A short film has been made to commemorate NGN’s gas holders as they disappear from the region’s skyline.

The film is now available to watch at: http://www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/ngn-and-you/environment/cleaner-and-greener/case-studies/

 

For further information about the project please visit www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk, contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk.

 

Anyone that smells gas or suspects Carbon Monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.