Emergency works to repair a gas leak in Rochdale town centre

in your area

  • Leak identified on a gas main under St Mary’s Gate
  • Engineers using special cameras underground to pinpoint source
  • Working on this ‘live’ (gas stays on), with safety as top priority
  • But also working hard to keep traffic flowing  

Teams from local gas network Cadent are working to fix a leak identified on a gas pipe under a busy road in the centre of Rochdale.



They suspect the leak is coming from a small joint on the pipeline, at least two metres beneath St Mary’s Gate, at the junction with College Road.
 
Everything is under control, with no gas near to buildings, but this still needs fixing as emergency works.
 
The challenge facing the Cadent engineers is to do this without completely closing the road.
 
By working to one side of the carriageway, largely out-of-sight in a deep, reinforced trench, they’ve been able to keep the roads open.
 
From this work area, cameras are being sent along the pipeline to survey and identify the source of the leak.
 
Specialist teams should arrive on site next week to use the latest technology to coat the pipe with a sealant – with motorists continuing to travel above, unaware of what’s happening beneath.
 
This should stop the leak and, after thorough testing, allow the teams to move off site.
 
“The leak is under control, but it couldn’t be in a more challenging place,” said Chris Campbell, Customer Operations Area Manager for Cadent.
 
“Our priority is keeping everyone safe, but we are also working very hard to keep traffic flowing as well as keep gas flowing into people’s homes.
 
“We appreciate everyone’s patience while we carry out this work, and know too that it’s causing traffic issues in the local area.
 
“We’ll have a much better idea next week how long this will take to complete.”
 

If you smell gas

If you smell gas during this work, nearby or anywhere, always ring the national gas emergency service immediately, day or night, on 0800 111 999*. Do not delay, or assume it’s related to this work. It may not be and must be checked.
 

Cadent in the North West

Cadent operates four of the UK’s eight gas distribution networks – North West England, West Midlands, Eastern England and North London.
 
Its North West network stretches from the Lake District to Crewe and is home to 21,000 miles of distribution pipes (most of them underground) and hundreds of above ground installations.
 
If placed end to end, that amount of pipes would stretch from the North West to Sydney, Australia, and back again.
 
Around £800m will be invested in the North West’s gas network over the next five years. This will maintain safe, secure supplies to homes, hospitals, schools, offices, and other sites, and provide greener options for heating our homes.
 
Backed by Cadent and many partners, the North West region is set to lead the way in a major shift from fossil gases to hydrogen. Producing only heat and water at point of use, hydrogen is key to the UK’s net zero future and is set to be introduced at volume in the North West this decade (see www.hynet.co.uk).

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