Households in the north of the village of Rhydymwyn are to benefit from connection to the mains gas network for the very first time, which is set to save them hundreds of pounds on their household bills each year – and Wales & West Utilities is now inviting residents from the south of the village to come and find out about the opportunities for them to connect to the gas network.
Wales & West Utilities is now hosting a community drop-in session for residents from the village to establish what interest there is in extending the network further. The event will be held on Tuesday 10 November at Rhydymwyn Football Club on Vicarage Road between 4-7pm. Representatives from Flintshire County Council will also be on hand to provide assistance on any heating installation grants available.
Properties in the north of the village, which includes council properties and privately owned homes, will start to benefit from being connected to the network by the end of 2015 – making sure they start to see the benefits imminently. And the new gas pipes have been sized to make sure that if there is further demand for gas connections from the south of the village it can be accommodated.
Wales & West Utilities and Flintshire County Council are working together to let householders know about the benefits in connecting to the network, as well as the financial assistance available through the Warm Home Assistance Scheme. Through taking such a partnership approach, Wales & West Utilities is working to provide mains gas connection to more than 100 properties in the village of Treuddyn.
The Warm Home Assistance Scheme, which has been running since 2009, can provide financial assistance towards the cost of a new gas connection, to homes that qualify. Converting to mains gas will reduce a typical energy bill by hundreds of pounds a year– something that will bring very real benefits to Rhydymwyn residents.
Nigel Winnan, Wales & West Utilities Connections Manager, said:
“We are delighted that by working closely with Flintshire County Council this scheme will connect many more households to the mains gas network.
“By providing financial assistance through our Warm Home Assistance Scheme to those who qualify, families will reap the benefits of reduced bills through connection to the mains gas network.
“To date, our Warm Home Assistance Scheme has funded more than 10,000 new gas connections across Wales and the south west of England in the last five years with some people also receiving further funding towards a central heating system and home insulation.”
Cllr. Helen Brown, Flintshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Housing said,
“Rhydymwyn is the latest gas infill project to be undertaken following on from schemes completed in Treuddyn, Sealand, Aston and Mostyn. Householders in and around these communities now enjoy the opportunity to make significant savings on their energy bills.
"I would urge residents in Rhydymwyn to find out more about the scheme proposed for their village and the benefits it will bring, which includes having a similar choice over their energy suppliers as people living in larger communities."
Wales & West Utilities is urging other people not connected to the mains gas network within the area to make contact to check if they are eligible for financial assistance through the Warm Home Assistance Scheme. People can get more information from www.wwutilities.co.uk or by calling 0800 912 2999.
Wales & West Utilities provides the gas emergency service across Wales and the south west of England. 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.
The company is also carrying out a 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.