Essential work is due to take place over the weekend 18th to 20th October, after the discovery of an issue with a gas pipe under Royle Road, in Burnley town centre.
A smell of gas has been traced to a distribution pipe that runs underneath Royle Road, at the junction where it meets the roundabout at the A679 (Active Way).
Cadent’s engineers have ensured everything is under control, but need to take further action to ensure there is no further deterioration, or risk to anyone’s safety.
The gas network has agreed with local authority highways teams to begin work after nearby Burnley College finishes for the day on 18th October.
From this point, there will be no access from Royle Road to the roundabout (Active Way). The lane heading in the direction of the college (and onwards to the M65 motorway) stays open. However, motorists should expect delays to their journeys.
Cadent’s teams will work through the weekend, digging a deep excavation, and then repairing the pipe. They will work on the pipe with gas ‘live’ (gas stays on).
Nick Jerman, Head of Customer Operations, Cadent, said: “Our teams have already taken action to keep everyone safe, and to keep gas flowing to the local area.
“We do need to investigate this fully and carry out a repair. This is a busy traffic area and there is really no quiet time to get this work done. We have tried hard – working with the local authority – to minimise the disruption as best we can.
“We have everything in place to work on this through the weekend [18th to 20th October] but must stress that completing everything will be a huge task and we cannot guarantee. We hope everyone understands our priority has to be safety.”
If you smell gas, nearby or anywhere, please do not assume it is related to this work, as it may not be and needs to be checked. Always act immediately and call the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999, day or night. All calls are recorded and may be monitored.
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.
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