I want to start by saying sorry that our works to install a new gas pipeline in Flixton Road, and in streets leading off it, is taking longer than planned.
We are replacing one of the oldest gas mains in North West England – it is over 100 years old. It is a vital part of a network which keeps thousands of homes in the local area warm and safe.
In recent years, the need to replace the pipe has increased – you will know that the frequency of our unplanned visits for essential repairs was rising and we therefore needed to act to ensure long-term safety and reliability
We have been working in the area since April, initially in residential streets, before moving onto Flixton Road in the summer. We had originally hoped to complete this work last month. We now expect to be clear of Flixton Road by the end of January.
This has been a very complex project. Some of the excavations we have needed to create to access the current main and lay the new one have been very large – the current one is 25 metres by three metres.
We have had to pause work on several occasions to enable unplanned emergency works on other utilities within the area. This includes last week’s water main burst and similar unfortunate events before it.
We have unexpectedly found third-party assets (pipes and cabling) in close proximity to our gas pipeline. We needed these to be moved – pausing our work – or otherwise dealt with before we could progress.
We were also asked to extend our work further along the road, to replace other ageing assets now. This will prevent us from having to come back within a few years, which would lead to more disruption to the local community.
I am very conscious of the ongoing inconvenience this work is causing to residents and businesses in the area, as well as road users. I am grateful for your ongoing patience as we move into the final phase.
We expect to have our new main fully commissioned within the next couple of weeks, and then the substantial work to decommission the old main and reinstate the area will get under way in the new year.
We expect to be clear of Flixton Road by the end of January at the latest – but sooner, if we can. Where we have impacted verges and green spaces, please be assured these will be checked and rectified, if necessary, when the weather is more suited to work of this nature, during the Spring.
Our customer teams have visited residents and businesses in the local area throughout the project and were onsite again this week. If you need to contact us about the project you can do so on 0800 090 3071 or [email protected].
However, if you smell gas, act immediately and call the National Gas Emergency Number on 0800 111 999.
Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy. We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change. Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency. Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing.
Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.
Cadent manages the national gas emergency service free phone line on behalf of the gas industry - 0800 111 999*
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