National Grid engineers have now restored gas supplies to 300 homes in East Barnet as work continues around the clock to pump water out of the local gas network.
More than 100 gas engineers from across the country are now in Barnet and are doing all they can to try to reconnect the remaining 900 homes in time for Christmas. Many engineers are giving up their own Christmas holidays to help out.
Around 1,200 homes lost their gas supply after water entered the local gas mains at the weekend. The water is believed to have come from a burst water main which in turn, damaged a nearby gas pipe.
An incident room has been set up in St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Littlegrove. Heating appliances have been distributed to affected households.
National Grid is working closely with the London Borough of Barnet’s emergency planning department to identify vulnerable people within the area.
To help National Grid restore gas supplies, it is important that the electricity network in Barnet is maintained. Residents are asked to use only essential electricity appliances and switch off any non-essential appliances.
David Luetchford, National Grid incident controller, said: “We have now restored gas supplies to around 300 homes, but we are still pumping water out of the gas network.
“Safety is our top priority and people must not try to turn their own gas supply back on. An engineer will call to reconnect the supply safely when it is safe to do so.
“We have brought in extra engineers from the Midlands, North West and East Anglia, and we are also getting help from local Gas Safe registered engineers to help us work as quickly and safely as possible. All engineers carry identification and people should ask to see it before they let anyone in to their homes.”
“I appreciate that this is a difficult time for residents, but we are doing all we can and I ask them to bear with us as we work to resolve this situation.”
If you are a local resident and have any enquiries about the loss of gas supply in East Barnet, please call 0845 605 6677.
If you smell gas please ring the National Gas Emergency service on 0800 111 999.
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