Gas Boost for Tyneside

Pictured right: United Utilities network officer Brian Featherstone on site at the £320,000 gas mains scheme in Shiremoor.

Thousands of homes across Tyneside will be cooking on gas this winter after almost £1m of work on the region’s gas mains.

Engineers working for Northern Gas Networks are working on no fewer than three huge schemes to replace and extend more than 9km of pipe work.

The work will guarantee the safety of homes and businesses in Newcastle and North Tyneside.

The work – in Fenham, Kenton and Shiremoor – is being managed by United Utilities as part of a £60m package of gas main improvements across the North this year.

Gas men have worked with local people and highways chiefs to ease the strain of the works on residents wherever possible.

Network Director Chris Gorman, from Northern Gas Networks, said the company was renewing unprecedented levels of gas mains in 2007.

“This year we are replacing 528km of old gas main in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Cumbria. This is more than has ever been achieved in the area before and we only bought the network from Transco two years ago,” he said.

Like all UK gas distribution companies, Northern Gas Networks plans to replace all its old iron and steel pipes with modern plastic pipe, which is more durable and flexible, within the next 25 years.

“This might seem like a long time but when you consider we have got 36,000km of gas mains in our area you appreciate the scale of the job. The most needy pipes have already been replaced over the last five years,” added Chris.

“The great news is that our new pipe should have a lifespan of at least 80 years before it needs replacing again. So although our road works may be disruptive the benefits will be real and long-lasting,” he said.

The three major Tyneside schemes are:

• Fenham – £230,000 replacing 3.2km of gas mains in seven streets around Bolbec Road.
• Kenton - £400,000 replacing 4.6km of gas mains in 22 streets off Kenton Road
• Shiremoor - £320,000 extending the gas mains network near West Allotment