Colden - Please Bear With Us During Road Closure

Northern Gas Networks is asking residents in Colden to bear with them as a road closure takes effect to allow a new gas main to be laid.

A short section of Smithy Lane will be closed, where it is particularly narrow, from 9th August and will remain in place for around four weeks. A signed diversion route will be in operation.

No parking will be available within the closure but pedestrian access will be maintained. Residents and locals are reminded that the pub and guest house remain open for business.

Buses will continue to serve the area although it is advisable to check with Metro for any changes to routes and timetables.

Area operations manager Iain Foster said: “Unfortunately, the road is too narrow at the Colden end of the project to allow traffic to safely pass our works.”

“Our engineers will work as quickly and safely as possible to ensure they get the work done within four weeks.”

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience and hope that local people will agree with us that this is short term pain for long term gain.”

The area’s gas pipeline owner is investing around £500,000 to bring mains gas to the town in time for winter now that an LPG tank supplying 14 homes is nearing the end of its natural life.

In total, engineers are laying around 3km of modern, plastic pipe along Smithwell Lane to Colden village. Engineers are making good progress and work is expected to be complete by late October.

Once in place, Northern Gas Networks will connect the existing LPG customers to the new main before removing the redundant LPG tank.

The new supply also brings mains gas within the reach of around 60 additional properties in the area.

Northern Gas Networks Customer Liaison Officers will be on-site at key stages of the project to ensure that the local community is kept up to date on progress and that any disruption is minimised.

Colden had a mains gas supply until 1970 when the pipes were abandoned and an LPG supply installed. Forty years later the tank has reached the end of its working life and it has been decided to restore a mains supply.

Communications director, John O’Grady said: “Northern Gas Networks has a commitment to running a safe and efficient gas distribution network. We plan ahead and carry out upgrades in good time to ensure a continued safe and reliable supply of gas to our 2.4 million customers – the work in Colden is part of this.

“Many of us take mains gas for granted but among rural communities it’s not uncommon to be on LPG, oil or coal which are less environmentally friendly and often more expensive forms of energy. Extending our network to Colden is a boost to the local infrastructure and moreover, it’s something people really want.”