The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing £80k to upgrade the ageing gas distribution network in and around Charles Street, Otley.

The project is part of NGN’s ongoing development of infrastructure in Otley and the surrounding area and will involve replacing more than 300m of existing metal gas mains with more durable plastic pipes, to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers for years to come.

This project will begin today (4 September) and is expected to last around six-weeks. All works have been closely agreed with Leeds City Council to ensure that disruption is kept to minimum.

Works will begin on Charles Street and will remain in place for approximately three-weeks before progressing onto Walkergate for two-weeks, then finishing off at the end of Boroughgate for a further week.

In order to carry out the work safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to introduce a number of traffic management measures throughout the project.

From today, it will be necessary to introduce a road closure on Charles Street for the full duration of the project. The following access will be available for residents and businesses throughout the works:

• From Monday 4 September, for three weeks, access to Charles Street will be via Walkergate
• From Monday 25 September, for three weeks, access to Charles Street will be via the Gay Lane / Bondgate junction
• From Monday 25 September a road closure will be introduced at the junction of Walkergate / Manchester Square for two-weeks. Walkergate will also operate under a one-way system towards Nelson Street for three-weeks from this date

Engineers will be working from Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm and NGN will continue to provide updates as the project progresses.

James Knox, Site Manager for Northern Gas Networks, said: “We have been working closely with Leeds City Council to carefully plan these works in order to minimise any disruption to customers.

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these works, and thank our customers for their patience and support in getting them completed as quickly as possible.”

For further information about the project please contact NGN’s Customer Care Team on 0800 040 7766 or email: customercare@northerngas.co.uk.

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.