Supply restoration well under way

Engineers have now reconnected 1,000 homes and businesses to their gas supply in Marsden, Huddersfield.

A total of 1,774 homes and businesses were affected by a supply failure on Saturday, 4th March, of which 1,000 had been reconnected by 5pm today, Wednesday 8th March.

Engineers expect that, provided they can gain access to the remaining properties, most if not all will be reconnected by the end of today.

Northern Gas Networks and its operating partner United Utilities apologise for the inconvenience which local people have experienced.
'Supply failures such as these happen very, very rarely,' said Northern Gas Networks' Director of Communications John O'Grady. `But we fully recognise that when they do occur the normal everyday lives of people are severely disrupted.'

More than 2,000 fan heaters and 600 hot plates have been provided to local people since the supply failure happened on Saturday evening, following the fracture of the main supply pipe into the area in Chain Road.

An information line is being manned between 8am and 8pm, on 0191 501 4324. Outside those hours information can be obtained from the National Gas Emergency Service, on 0800 111 999.
Around 60 engineers are continuing to work in the area. The restoration work is being carried out in a carefully managed process, to guarantee the safety of local people.

`You may think that it is taking a long time to restore supplies,' said Mr O'Grady, `but the fact is we have to ensure that all 20km of mains and pipes in the area are working as normal, and that there is no air in them, before we can restore supplies.'
A third information bulletin will be delivered to homes and businesses on Thursday, 9th March.