Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributor for the North of England, is carrying out essential work to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the Skipton Road (A59) area of Harrogate.
In July, NGN began work to replace just under one kilometre of ageing gas mains with new, more durable plastic pipes, beneath on a stretch of Skipton Road between King Edward’s Drive and Regent Avenue. The project will ensure that there is a safe and reliable gas supply for customers in Harrogate for many years to come.
Work was progressing when in October the project was paused until the new year, at the request of North Yorkshire County Council. NGN will continue to work closely with the council, local business and residents to complete the project as quickly as possible.
So that engineers can carry out the work safely and efficiently, and to protect the public, some traffic management measures will be put in place.
From Monday 4 January, there will be two-way temporary traffic lights on Skipton Road, which will remain in place for the full duration of the project. These will start at Harrogate Fire Station and will finish at the junction with Regent Avenue. The project is due to finish on 5 March 2021.
Signs will be displayed for motorists and a full signed diversion put in place.
To ensure the safety of colleagues, customers and the community, the majority of the work is being carried out in the street and engineers will follow Government guidelines for safe distance working of at least two metres wherever possible.
There will also be extra safety precautions in place for any work that does need to be done indoors: NGN engineers will wash their hands and use hand sanitiser before entering a property; they will maintain a two metre distance and ask customers to stay in another room while they work, and will wear a face mask and gloves.
Where customers are self-isolating, have symptoms or are at high clinical risk, our engineers will wear full PPE including coveralls and eye protection.
Russ Kaye, Business Operations Lead for Northern Gas Networks, said: “We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these essential works. However, it is vital we now complete this postponed project as soon as possible in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Harrogate.
“We want to assure residents and road users that we will be working hard to complete this scheme as safely and as quickly as possible.”
There will be regular updates on the NGN website, at https://bit.ly/38g0wD5
As well as NGN’s critical service (which include responding to gas emergencies, carrying out emergency repairs and critical maintenance activities) engineers are continuing to carry out work to upgrade infrastructure, including planned work to replace ageing metal gas pipes, where most of the work can be carried out safely in the street.
Customers can read more about our Covid Secure Promise here.
For further information about the work 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.
