The North of England’s gas distributor, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is carrying out essential works to upgrade the gas distribution network in the Papcastle area of Cockermouth. This work will affect the areas around The Mount, Papcastle Road and Gote Road.
The £350,000 project is part of NGN’s ongoing investment in the gas infrastructure in the area and involves replacing around 2.5km of existing metal gas pipes with more durable plastic equivalents. This will ensure the continued, safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the area for years to come.
The project will last for approximately 20 weeks in total and is due to start on Monday 7 October 2019. It has been carefully planned in conjunction with Cumbria County Council. NGN engineers will be working hard to complete the work as quickly as possible and will provide regular updates throughout the project.
In order to carry out the works safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to introduce some traffic management measures. The work has been planned to be carried out in phases, to minimise the disruption caused. These are as follows:
• A road closure from the Belle Vue pub on Drovers Lane up to Castle Gardens near The Mount, starting on Monday 7 October. The closure will be in place for approximately three weeks;
• When this first phase of work on Drovers Lane is complete, a one-way only system will be introduced on The Mount. NGN expects this phase to be in place for approximately six weeks, and;
• On Papcastle Road between Derwent Mews and the Old Pump House two-way traffic lights will be in place for approximately another five weeks.
Road users are advised to allow extra time for their journeys as travel times may be affected, and to use alternative routes if at all possible.
Richie Manuel, Business Operations Lead for Northern Gas Networks, said: “We have been working closely with Cumbria County Council to carefully plan these works and will be doing all we can to minimise disruption to customers.
“We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience customers may encounter and thank everyone for their support as we work to complete this project as safely and 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, seven days a week.
