Engineers ask for patience over vital gas work

Gas engineers are asking residents and motorists to be patient when major gas improvement work begins in Pannal Ash Road next week.

United Utilities is replacing 50-year-old gas mains in a £360,000 scheme on behalf of Northern Gas Networks. The scheme is essential to maintain the safety and reliability of the pipes in the area.

Engineers began work at the end of January and have already put new piping in at nearby Harlow Park Road and Harlow Avenue.

The final, and major stage of replacement work begins at Pannal Ash Road on April 10 and will run into the summer.

Gas engineers are replacing a total of 1000m of old cast iron gas main with brand new plastic pipe.

Pannal Ash Road will close to traffic throughout the duration of the work and will be access only for residents. A diversion route will be clearly signposted. Temporary traffic lights will be in operation at the junction of Beckwith Road and Otley Road.

Richard Felton from United Utilities said: “We are now entering the major part of our essential gas improvement work and unfortunately it is inevitable that there will be some disruption to residents and motorists.

“We have done a lot of pre-planning with highways officials before we start work at Pannal Ash Road. Our engineers are going to do their absolute best to get the work completed safely and on time.

“Unfortunately, as this is a busy junction, we are envisaging some traffic congestion at peak times so we are asking residents and motorists to bear with us.

“This amounts to around two months worth of disruption but the resulting improvements will give the area a fantastic gas network which will last 80 years.”