Wales & West Utilities has started the final phase of its £300,000 investment in new gas pipes in Mountain Ash, which is essential to make sure the area continues to receive a safe and reliable gas supply now and in the future.
The final phase of work, which started on the 14 September, will take approximately six weeks to complete and follows the completion of the third phase of work four weeks ahead of schedule.
The final phase involves temporary traffic lights on Miskin Road between Darran Road and Bailey Street.
This essential work is part of the company’s multi-million-pound 30-year gas pipe replacement programme, across Wales and the south west of England, which began in 2002. Old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings are being replaced with new long-lasting plastic pipes with a lifespan of more than 80 years.
Wales & West Utilities has worked closely with the local authority and local businesses during the work to keep inconvenience to a minimum. Keen to minimise disruption to local businesses and people, the company has contributed towards the cost of additional buses into the town centre and whilst Oxford Street was closed, it covered parking charges so that local people could shop in the town easily. To keep disruption to the community to a minimum, Wales & West Utilities have worked closely with the council and they have resurfaced Oxford Street from the bridge into the town, down the length of the street, to the junction of Darran Road while the road was closed.
Wales & West Utilities programme controller, Francis Kirk, said:
“We appreciate that this work is disruptive to local people but it is essential to ensure that homes and businesses in the area continue to receive a safe and reliable supply of gas now and in the future.
“Our teams have been working hard to ensure that the project is finished as safely and as quickly as possible, and that we minimise disruption to local people and businesses.
“We are progressing well with the scheme and the fact that we finished the previous phase of work four weeks ahead of schedule has meant that we are now able to move onto the final phase earlier than anticipated.
“Once again, we would like to thank local people for bearing with us whilst we carry out this essential work.”
If people have any questions about the work, they can always approach the team on site or ring our customer services team on free phone 0800 912 2999. Alternatively you can contact us on Twitter @WWUtilities, and at Facebook.com/WWUtilities.
If anyone smells gas, thinks they have a gas leak, or suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, they should call us on 0800 111 999 and our engineers will be there to help, day or night.