Wales & West Utilities has started work to upgrade gas pipes in the Fore Street area of Totnes.
The £50,000 investment work, which started this week, is essential to keep the gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses.
Wales & West Utilities has worked closely with both Devon County Council and the local chamber of commerce to plan the work to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum and it has been agreed that the work will be completed in two phases.
Barring any engineering difficulties, this first phase is due to finish by the end of March, with all traffic management removed before Easter, whilst the second phase will start in January 2024. Traffic management will be in place in phase one and will involve the following:
- Road closure on South Street (4 January – 12 February)
- Road closure on Fore Street, between the junction of Station Road and the Arch (4 January – 31 March)
- High street will be closed to cars throughout the work, but pedestrian access will be maintained
- Throughout the work Lower Fore Street, from the Seven Stars to the junction of Station Road, will remain open, with no impact to the available street parking.
Wales & West Utilities Abby Smith is managing this gas pipe upgrade work. She said:
While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Totnes. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.
We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it really is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future. We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.
This work is essential to keep the gas flowing to local homes and businesses today, and to make sure the gas network is ready to transport hydrogen and biomethane, so we can all play our part in a green future.
Our Customer Service Team is ready to take your call if you have any questions about our work. You can contact them on freephone 0800 912 2999.
Alternatively, you can contact us on Twitter @WWUtilities or Facebook.com/WWUtilities.
Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales. If you smell gas, or suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, call us on 0800 111 999 straight away, and our engineers will be there to help any time of day or night. Before visiting, we'll ask you to let us know if you or anyone in your household, is experiencing Coronavirus symptoms or self-isolating. We'll still come and help you: but our teams will take some additional precautions to keep us all safe.