Wales & West Utilities is packing up its site and leaving Mountain Ash town centre six weeks earlier than was originally expected.
The completed work, a £300,000 investment in new gas pipes, will make sure the town’s gas supply remains safe and reliable for at least the next 80 years
Wales & West Utilities 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 contributed toward 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.
And to keep disruption to the town to a minimum, Wales & West Utilities worked closely with the council to make sure the essential gas pipe replacement work and resurfacing work were done in a coordinated way.
Wales & West Utilities programme controller for the scheme Francis Kirk said:
“We want to thank local businesses and everyone who lives and works in Mountain Ash for bearing with us whilst we worked in the town centre. It was a very challenging job, but with careful planning, working closely with the local authority and local traders we have managed to achieve this early finishing date.
“With the new plastic pipes in place, apart from unforeseen emergencies, we shouldn’t need to return to work here for at least 80 years.”
Cllr Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC and a Ward Member for Mountain Ash West said:
“The way in which Wales &West Utilities have communicated with residents and businesses during this difficult period regarding the gas pipe replacement works being undertaken has been appreciated.
“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Wales & West Utilities for funding free town centre parking and additional bus services during the works and for the earlier than expected completion. It has been a very difficult time for the town but Wales & West Utilities have, I believe, worked throughout the process to minimise the impact as much as possible.”
The work was part of the company’s multi-million-pound 30-year mains replacement programme, across Wales and the south west, 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.
Over 7.5 million people rely on Wales & West Utilities to deliver gas for heating homes and powering businesses in Wales and the south west of England. Our dedicated team manages a network of over 35,000 kilometres of gas pipes to make sure we provide a safe and reliable gas supply 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We deal with over 2,000 reported gas leaks a week and over 1,000 calls a year where evidence of carbon monoxide is found
And 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.