Bank Holiday Fun in Durham

Northern Gas Networks has teamed up with traders in Durham to celebrate the end of mammoth road works.

Street entertainers, including a juggler, magicians and balloon artist, spent the day in Durham’s historic city centre this Bank Holiday Monday (May 26) to mark the end of a four month gas mains scheme.

The performers were provided by Northern Gas Networks to say thanks for people’s patience during gas works in Market Place, Silver Street, Saddler Street and Old Elvet.

The £77,000 project, which was carried out by United Utilities and Balfour Beatty came to an end last week (May 16).

Managing director of Durham Markets Company Colin Wilkes, a member of Durham City Forum, said the scheme caused tremendous upheaval but that engineers had worked hard to keep local people informed.

"Bearing in mind the awkward nature of the site the work was carried out as quickly as it possibly could. We had a good working relationship with the engineers and they gave us realistic updates," he said.

Northern Gas Networks’ director Chris Gorman said: “It’s been an interesting project. We had to shut down our work in February to allow the Freedom Parade and in April we discovered four skeletons while working in the Market Place.

“Without the flexibility and understanding of people in Durham, especially the traders and Durham County Council in its capacity as the highway authority, it would have been very difficult. That’s why we wanted to say thank you by paying for some street entertainers".

Durham County Council’s Network Operations Manager, Roger Culpin said: “The work was carried out in a busy and sensitive area of the City and Northern Gas Networks and their contractors cooperated fully with the our requests to minimise disruption and inconvenience to the area.”

In all, 500m of old gas pipe in Market Place, Silver Street, Saddler Street and Elvet Bridge were renewed by United Utilities and Balfour Beatty on Northern Gas Networks’ behalf.