Chesham gas pipes set for replacement after half a century of service

• Essential engineering work in Chesham will help keep residents connected to safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating.
• The scheme involves replacing 1,500 metres of ageing gas mains, with traffic management in place throughout./li>
• Work expected to be completed by November.

While 1976 may be remembered for a sweltering summer, it was also the year that metallic gas pipes were being installed in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. 

Now, 50 years on, engineers from Cadent – the UK’s largest gas distribution network – are getting set to replace 1,500 metres of gas pipes which are located underneath Nashleigh Hill, Berkhampstead Road, Whitehall, Pednor Vale, and Missenden Road 

While work gets underway on Monday 22 June, residents and business owners in the area are invited to attend a public event to learn more about these essential gas works taking place. The event will give everyone the opportunity to learn more about the necessity for the project and how the work will affect everyone on a day-to-day basis. 

Between 10am and 2pm on Monday 15 June, customer teams from Cadent will be at St Columba Church, 432 Berkhampstead Road, Chesham, HP5 3HQ, for people to call at and learn more about the project.

There is no need to book an appointment, just turn up and speak to the team. 

The project is part of a £123million investment this year, which will see more than 395km of pipes upgraded across the East of England. 

Following consultation with Buckinghamshire Council, Cadent will carry out this essential work over a 20-week period with completion expected in mid-November. 

Due to the location of the gas pipes, there will need to be a mixture of road closures and traffic management to ensure that engineers can work safely in the carriageway. Where necessary, diversion routes will be put in place with advanced warning, but access will remain available to residents living within the work zone.

Eleanor Buxton, Head of Work Management at Cadent, said: The metallic pipes that are in place in this section of the network have been very well used over the past 50 years and it’s time for them to be replaced so that we can continue to deliver gas to peoples' homes 24/7, 365 days a year.

In this part of Chesham, more than 75 per cent of homes have gas central heating. Upgrading these pipelines will ensure we can continue to distribute gas safely to them, for many decades to come.

These upgrades also have big environmental gains, as they reduce methane emissions and enable a move to more renewable gases like biomethane. This is essential for a cleaner future – the UK will need energy to come from a range of sources to meet demand and be sustainable.

We are very conscious of the disruption works like this cause and hope people understand this project is essential to maintain a long-term safe gas supply.

Gas stays ON for the duration of work. The only interruption to supply will be to properties that take a direct feed from the pipes being replaced (in the immediate local area). Supply to these properties will be disconnected for a short while as the property gets connected into the new pipe. Advance notice will be given, and more information will be provided to these properties. 

If you smell gas, always ring the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999*, day or night. Do not assume it is related to this work; it may not be and needs to be checked.