Summer holiday upgrade for Stafford gas pipes

Jul 27 2020 in your area

■ Essential upgrade for ageing gas main in Tenterbanks

■ Road closure for four weeks to keep engineers and motorists safe

■ New pipe will keep the gas flowing to local homes and businesses until the next century

■ Work taking place during the school summer holidays to reduce traffic impact

Ageing gas mains running under Tenterbanks in Stafford are set for an overhaul that will keep homes warm and fuel businesses into the next century.

In a four-week project starting today (Monday 27 July), Staffordshire gas distributor Cadent will be installing new gas mains in Tenterbanks, from the traffic island with Victoria Road towards Tenterbanks Car Park.

The existing iron mains will be replaced with tough new plastic pipes that will last for at least 80 years.

To keep drivers and colleagues safe while the work is underway, this section of Tenterbanks will be closed to traffic. A diversion route will be in place via Tenterbanks, Broad Street, Earl Street, Mill Street and Bridge Street.

Access to Tenterbanks Car Park is not affected and motorists can use this as normal. Drivers are advised to leave extra time for their journeys.

Craig Horrocks, who heads up Cadent’s gas mains replacement programme in Staffordshire and the West Midlands, said: “With 78% of Stafford residents relying on gas to heat their homes and many businesses using the fuel, it’s important that we keep investing in our pipe network so people stay warm and safe for many decades to come and we keep our economy going.

“To reduce inconvenience to the traffic network, we are carrying out this work during the school summer holidays. We appreciate people’s patience as we carry out this essential work.

“The safety of the public and colleagues is at the heart of what we do. Engineers work to the latest government guidance on Covid-19 and are taking extra safety precautions as required.”

The project follows recent work to upgrade gas pipes outside Stafford Station and is part of a £65 million package of investment in the West Midlands gas network this year.

If anyone has any questions about this work, they should contact the customer service team on 0161 703 1010 / 1110.

Cadent

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.

Future of Gas: 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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