National Grid engineers are aiming to restore a further 100 gas supplies tonight to homes in Caddington, Luton.
Around 200 properties, from the original 1,300, now remain without gas, and engineers from across the region have given up Christmas holidays and are working around the clock to try to reconnect them before Christmas. Gas supplies were lost when water from a burst main entered the local gas pipeline network at the weekend.
The streets still without gas include Sutton Gardens, Millfiled Way, Mancroft Road, Crosslands, The Glen, Mardle Close and parts of Little Green Lane and Dunstable Road. We are continuing to remove ice and water from the gas pipes in these streets. Engineers have pumped 2,000 litres of water out of the system today alone.
To help National Grid restore gas supplies, it is important that the electricity network in Caddington is maintained. Residents are asked to use only essential electricity appliances and switch off any non-essential appliances and lights.
For vital safety reasons residents must not try to switch their gas back on at the meter or use gas appliances until an engineer has called.
All National Grid engineers carry identity cards and residents should always check the identity of callers before allowing them in their homes.
Owing to the cold weather, some of the water has frozen in the pipes and engineers have been using infra-red heaters, powered by their vans, to melt the ice and drain the pipes.
Harry Buchanan, National Grid Head of Emergency for Gas Distribution, said: “We are working hard to get as many people back on gas supply as soon as possible.
“Engineers must visit every single property to turn the gas back on and check it is flowing properly to appliances.
“It is essential that people wait for an engineer to call so we can safely reconnect supplies. We know this is a difficult time for residents and we thank them for their patience as we work to get their gas supply restored as soon as we can.
“We have engineers giving up Christmas holidays to help out here and the community spirit has been fantastic. We would like to thank local volunteers who have been helping to distribute information to homes and checking on vulnerable residents and the support from Central Bedfordshire Council, the parish council, the Red Cross St John’s Ambulance, WRVS, and BHC4X4”
If you are a local resident and have any enquiries about the loss of supply in Caddington please call 0845 605 6677(until 8pm)
If you smell gas or have lost your gas supply please ring the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 (after 8pm)
An incident room has been set up in the Sports and Social Club in Manor Road where information and assistance is available to affected households.
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