Tadcaster pupils get the gas safety message

Gas workers went back to school to give Tadcaster youngsters a lesson in road works safety.

Pupils at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, in St Joseph’s Street, got to grips with pipes, barriers and road signs after a visit by gas firm United Utilities.

Engineers are due to start a major project replacing one of the town’s gas mains along the length of St Joseph’s Street, and wanted to make sure youngsters knew how to stay safe.

The scheme, which starts on October 1st, is part of a £60m programme of gas mains investment. The work is managed by United Utilities.

United Utilities customer liaison offer Amanda White said: “Because we will be working in the street right outside the school, it is important that children know how to keep themselves safe.”

“We want to make sure children understand that road works are just like building sites and need to be treated with respect. Playing near them or tinkering with equipment like barriers, pipes and signs can put them and other people at risk and we want to make sure no-one gets hurt.”

The gas mains replacement project starts on October 1st with the temporary closure of St Joseph’s Street to through traffic. Work will also be taking place at the junctions at either end of St Joseph’s Street (Station Road and High Street) with traffic restricted to a single lane. Drivers are recommended to allow extra time for their journeys. The project is expected to take four weeks to complete.