Top Award for Emergency Response

Northern Gas Networks has won a top award for its Public Relations work managing the gas supply failure in Crook earlier this year.

Contractors working for Northern Gas Networks damaged a supply pipe which resulted in more than 6,000 users losing their gas supply for up to a week in February. The Company's Public Relations team ensured everyone in the affected area was regularly briefed on the progress of the emergency, through letters hand-delivered to the affected homes and businesses and through regular briefings in the regional media.

Their work was recognised when they received a Gold award in the Crisis Communications category of the annual Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) North East region awards, held in Gateshead on Friday, 9th November.

Director of Communications John O'Grady said his team had worked tirelessly to ensure the people of Crook were as well informed as possible during the week-long emergency.

"It was extremely demanding work but we recognised it was vitally important to keep the local people as well informed as we possibly could," he said.

"We arranged daily newsletters to be delivered to the homes and businesses which were affected and worked closely with the local and regional newspapers, radio stations and TV to deliver timely and accurate information."

He praised the work of Wear Valley District Council, Durham County Council, voluntary agencies and the emergency services for helping ensure the effects of the gas supply failure were managed effectively.

"Only by working closely with the local authorities, the blue light services, the voluntary sector and other agencies could we have repaired the damaged main and got the supplies back on to Crook so quickly. It was a true team effort by everyone," he said.

The company also received a Gold award in the Best Leaflet category for a brochure which it sends to homes and businesses ahead of planned gas mains works.