Bury: essential work under way to fix leak on gas main

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Emergency work to locate and fix a leak on an underground gas main is under way in Bury today.
 
Cadent, which manages the town’s gas network, suspects the source of the leak is somewhere on an 18-inch diameter pipe that runs underneath a busy junction where Bell Lane meets Wash Lane.
 
Engineers have checked surrounding buildings and are regularly monitoring for any rise in gas readings. They are content that everything is safely under control and that there is no need to evacuate any buildings. There is no interruption to local gas supplies.
 
However, the leak does need finding and fixing quickly.
 
The teams are initially using keyhole technology – which can take days off the required work if it is successful in finding the source. But they cannot rule out needing to make a large excavation, if required. This will be determined in the next day or so.
 
The teams are taking up two lanes of Bell Lane – a right-turn lane (into Brook Street) and the lane adjacent to it. This means only one through lane is open, so traffic may build up in that area.
 
“This is essential work, on a pipe that runs right under this busy junction,” said a spokesman for Cadent. “Our priority is to keep everyone safe and we will work as fast as we safely can to get the job done. Please be patient and give yourself extra time if you normally use this junction.”
 
Cadent manages the 21,000 miles of gas mains that run under North West England.
 
These carry gas safely to 2.7 million properties – from homes and hospitals, to schools, workplaces, industrial sites and HGV fuelling stations. That amount of pipes, if placed end to end, would run from Bury to Sydney, Australia, and back again.
 
Working from 14 depots from Kendal to Crewe, including bases in Rochdale, Hollinwood and Bolton, Cadent also provides the North West’s 24/7, 365-day gas emergency service.
 
*If you smell gas, report it immediately to the national gas emergency number 0800 111 999. Don’t think it’s related to any nearby ongoing work and don’t think someone else will do it. It may not be related, and we’d want to check. Calls to this number are recorded and may be monitored.
 

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.

Cadent manages the national gas emergency service free phone line on behalf of the gas industry - 0800 111 999*

Cadent Gas Ltd is owned by a consortium of global investors.

*All calls are recorded and may be monitored.

Media contacts

Kevin Hegarty

kevin.hegarty@cadentgas.com

07970 694897