Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributer for the North of England will be carrying out essential gas mains repairs in Durham from Tuesday 24 January.

Engineers will be working on a section of the A167 Great North Road from 9am on Tuesday until Friday 27 January.

Gas supply to local properties will not be affected.

In order to carry out the work safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to close the inside lane of the northbound carriageway and the outside lane of the southbound carriageway between Pity Me Roundabout and Plawsworth Roundabout.

It’s expected motorists will experience extended journey times so are advised to leave extra time for travel.

Andy Coates, Site Manager for Northern Gas Networks, said: “The safety of the public and our engineers is our number one priority and in order for us to carry out the repair as quickly and safely as we can, it’s necessary to close both these lanes to traffic.

“We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience customers may experience and thank everyone for their patience and support as we complete this work as quickly as possible.”

For further information about the project please contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766 option 7 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk

Anyone that smells gas or suspects Carbon Monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN) joined the UK’s gas distribution networks to launch the Carbon Monoxide (CO) Charity Fund today (Wed 18 January 2017).

Charities and projects which support innovative CO-related initiatives across NGN’s network which covers the north of England, northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire, are invited to apply for funding.

The gas distribution networks (GDNs) will consider applications on an annual basis and award one-off grants up to the value of £2,000 from the fund, which has been launched for the first time today.

NGN staff show customers how a CO alarm works

The GDNs, which comprise Northern Gas Networks, SGN, National Grid and Wales & West Utilities, are hopeful the fund will encourage new ideas around raising awareness of the risks, dangers and symptoms of CO and the prevention of further CO poisoning cases in the UK. The companies are responsible for running the gas networks.

Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy at NGN said: “We are pleased that GDNs across the UK have collaborated to set up this important fund, providing support to charities who already work on CO related initiatives, and engaging new charities with fresh ideas to get involved.

“We look forward to receiving and considering all applications over the next few months.”

Known as the silent killer because it cannot be seen, smelled or tasted CO is the most common type of accidental poisoning and can lead to breathing, neuropsychological and cardiovascular problems and potentially death.

• The deadline for application submissions will be Wednesday 8 March 2017 at 5pm.
• Interested applicants can download the application form via this link http://bit.ly/COCharityFund

The Department of Health estimates around 4,000 people attend Accident and Emergency departments in the UK every year with suspected CO poisoning, and 200 are hospitalised. Accurate numbers are however difficult to determine because the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning are very similar to other common illnesses and so can often be misdiagnosed by health professionals.

Anyone who smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency helpline on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The north of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing £97,000 to upgrade the ageing metal gas distribution network in Cavendish Street and Hanover Street, Keighley.

The major project is part of NGN’s ongoing development of infrastructure in the area and will involve replacing around 500m of existing metal gas mains with more durable plastic pipes, to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the area for years to come.

The project, which will start the week beginning Monday 23 January subject to Bradford Council Highways approval, will last around 10 weeks with an estimated completion date of 5 April.

It has been planned in conjunction with Bradford Council to ensure all works are completed with as little disruption as possible.

Works will begin at the rear of Cavendish Hotel and will progress down Cavendish Street and Hanover Street.

In order to complete the works as safely and efficiently as possible, it may be necessary to introduce four-way temporary traffic signals to help traffic flow. This decision will be made after further investigation is completed, and an update provided closer to the time.

If any bus stops do need to be suspended, temporary stands will be provided and these will be clearly signed and displayed for all bus users.

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and engineers will be working Monday to Sunday between 8.30am and 4.30pm whilst works take place on Cavendish Street, and Monday to Friday between 8.30am and  4.30pm on Hanover Street.

Ian Cunningham, Construction Services Area Manager at Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with Bradford Council to carefully plan these works in order to minimise disruption to customers.

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these works, and thank our customers for their patience and support in getting them completed as quickly as possible.”

For further information about the project please contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766, option 7 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk

Anyone that smells gas or suspects Carbon Monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Engineers at Northern Gas Networks have repaired the gas network in Withernsea and the gas pipework system now has gas flowing.

Customers can start using gas again in their properties with the help of the following guide (see below) to safely turn their gas supply back on.

Ian Waddle, Northern Gas Networks Regional Manager, said: “We would like to thank residents in Withernsea for their patience and cooperation, along with the other agencies and volunteers who have helped provide support since this incident occurred.”

Download the letter here: Self Restoration Letter_Withernsea FINAL 15.01.17 (1)

Urgent – we’ve restored gas supplies in your area

Dear Customer

 We (Northern Gas Networks) have repaired the gas network in your area and are now restoring gas supplies to individual homes.

You can start using gas again in your property. Please use the following guide to safely turn your gas supply back on.

Our engineers will be happy to come to your property if you need help − contact us on 0800 040 7766 followed by option 5. Otherwise, please follow the step-by-step instructions below.

For your safety, and that of those around you, please follow these instructions in the order they appear.

1. Make sure all the gas appliances in the property are turned off (boiler, cooker, fire, and so on) before you try to turn the gas supply back on.

2. Open some doors and windows in your property for ventilation.

3. Turn on your gas supply − give the emergency control valve (a spanner-style handle close to the gas meter) a quarter turn in either direction, setting it in line with the gas pipe. Some pipes have yellow tape to help guide you. There may be a slight hissing noise as the meter  re-pressurises

4. If you smell gas, turn the emergency control valve off again and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 immediately. Do not try to turn any appliances back on.

If you cannot smell gas, continue with the following steps.

5. Turn on your gas appliances one at a time according to the manufacturer’s instructions (many boilers and fires will have instructions on the inside of a drop-down flap near the controls). Start with your gas hob if you have one. It may take a little longer than usual for the gas to reach appliances and light.

6. If you successfully turn on your gas supply and gas appliances, you don’t need to do anything else.

7. If you cannot turn your emergency control valve on, or you are having difficulty turning your appliances back on, you must turn everything off again (including the emergency control valve) and call us for help on 0800 040 7766 followed by option 5.

If you know of any neighbours who may need special help or who are away (and you have a key to their property), please let us know. All of our staff carry an official identity card containing their photograph, so please ask to see this before allowing anyone into your property.

Thank you for your help − we appreciate your patience while we complete our work.

You can find extra guidance at Northern Gas Networks website www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk or follow us @NGNgas or on facebook.com/northerngasnetworks

Smell gas?

If your gas meter is in a basement or cellar and that is where the smell of gas is, do not enter those areas. Call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.

If your gas meter is in another area and you smell gas, please follow these guidelines.

 Turn off the gas at the emergency control valve (this is near your gas meter).
 Turn off all gas appliances and keep them off until an engineer checks them for safety and tells you they may be turned back on.
 Open doors and windows to ventilate the property.
 Put out any naked flames.
 Do not turn any electrical appliances or switches on or off.
 Do not smoke.
 Call the National Gas Emergency Service.

National Gas Emergency Service
0800 111 999 (24 hours)

Calls will be recorded and may be monitored

Engineers from Northern Gas Networks continue to do all that they can to restore supply to properties in the town of Withernsea, East Yorkshire.

Mobile catering services are available to customers at the right-hand site of Pier Towers. One van is currently serving a range of hot meals and refreshments and a second will arrive at 8pm.

The Coach & Horses pub on Main Street, Welwick, HU12 0RY is also open to serve food until 9pm tonight.

Residents are able to go along to East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s leisure centre in the town to keep warm and receive hot drinks. It will remain open longer than usual tonight, with people able to stay until 9pm. It will re-open earlier than usual tomorrow, from 6am, to again operate a drop-in centre.

Tesco will be open until 6pm.

Residents are urged to use electricity, such as for heaters and hotplates, with consideration, so as not to place excessive strain on the electricity network. Northern Powergrid is supporting us extremely well to manage this situation.

Investigations are underway to establish the cause of the incident, which occurred at around 6pm on Saturday and has resulted in the loss of supply to the town. Around 3,000 properties have been affected.

More details from our Chief Executive, Mark Horsley, are available here: http://www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/incident/update-loss-of-gas-supply-to-properties-in-withernsea-sunday-january-15-2-30pm/

Letters are being delivered to customers with gas safety advice. Read the letter here: http://www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/incident/update-loss-of-gas-supply-to-properties-in-withernsea/

Further updates to follow at 7.30pm.

Engineers from Northern Gas Networks continue to do all that they can to restore supply to properties in the town of Withernsea, East Yorkshire.

Investigations are underway to establish the cause of the incident, which occurred at around 6pm on Saturday and has resulted in the loss of supply to the town.

Around 3,000 properties have been affected.

Northern Gas Networks Chief Executive Officer, Mark Horsley, is in Withernsea today. He said: “The main governor feeding Withernsea shut itself off around 6pm on Saturday.

“We think it was due to the adverse weather and water getting into the gas system and so the actual equipment was doing the right thing and made the whole network very safe.

“What we are currently doing is investigating the cause of that before we can even think about turning the gas back on and so we are in that planning process at the moment.

“It is important that customers do turn off their gas at the gas mains. We will be dropping a note through every customer’s door, instructing them on what actions to take when we do switch the gas back on. Hopefully, it is going to be today, but I really can’t make any promises at the moment, until we have investigated further.

“We have established an incident centre and anybody who has neighbours with any issues of vulnerability please come round to the centre.

“We are giving out heaters, but we need to be careful as if we give heaters to everyone we may have problems on the electricity network.

“Northern Powergrid are supporting us extremely well at the moment to manage this situation as well.

“Our teams have been working through the night, all my board of directors are out here as well and we really are concerned to get this back on as quickly as we can.”

Northern Gas Networks is working together with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and other agencies to support customers during this time with heating, cooking, food and shower facilities.

A mobile catering unit is on route and will be based at the incident centre in the sports hall on Hull Road.

As well as the incident centre, residents are able to go along to East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s leisure centre in the town to keep warm and receive hot drinks.

It will remain open longer than usual tonight, with people able to stay until 9pm. It will re-open earlier than usual tomorrow, from 6am, to again operate a drop-in centre.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Withernsea Centre in Queen Street has also been opened today to offer support to local residents.

Anyone with any questions or concerns is being asked to speak to an engineer on site, drop into the sports hall or contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766.

Anyone who smells gas should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

Read the letter to customers here: Self Isolation Letter_Withernsea

Engineers from Northern Gas Networks continue to work hard to restore supply to properties in Withernsea, East Yorkshire.

Our teams of engineers are on site hand delivering letters and door knocking customers in order to get access to their properties to turn off the gas at the meter.

In the meantime, customers are advised to turn off their gas supplies at the main tap or next to their gas meter.

Investigations are underway to establish the cause of the incident, which occurred at around 6pm on Saturday and has resulted in the loss of supply to the town.

Around 3,000 properties have been affected.

Ian Waddle, Regional Manager, Northern Gas Networks, said: “We’d like to apologise for the inconvenience caused and are working hard to restore the gas supply to all customers affected as soon as possible and will be providing customers with regular updates on our progress.

“We are working to identify any vulnerable customers in the area and ensure that they are looked after as a priority.”

A temporary incident room has been set up at the sports hall, Hull Road, HU19 2EE, where residents can drop in and ask any questions.

Our customer teams are supporting engineers in distributing heating and cooking facilities where it is needed and further updates will be circulated regarding support to our customers.

If you have or using temporary electrical heating or cooking please use it sparingly as constant use by everyone in the town may result in overloading of Northern Powergrid’s Network.

Anyone with any questions or concerns is being asked to speak to an engineer on site, drop into the sports hall or contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766.

Anyone who smells gas should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

• Youngsters from across the north invited to submit entries for national Carbon Monoxide awareness creative competition
• Entries should be accurate, eye catching and informative
• Nationwide competition – which offers cash prizes – is now in its tenth year

 Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distributer for the north of England, northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire is calling young artists and creative kids to enter an annual creative competition to design a form of media warning of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO).

Open to UK schoolchildren in key stages 1 and 2 (ages 5 to 11), the competition asks pupils to produce an informative poster, poem, video, cartoon or newspaper report which warns of the dangers of CO poisoning and how to avoid them.

The competition launches on Wednesday 11 January 2017 and winners of the northern area round, which will include youngsters from across NGN’s network, will then go forward to the national round and a prize-giving held at the Palace of Westminster.

The 2016 winners from the Northern Area pictured at the Palace of Westminster with NGN’s Tom Bell and Barry Sheerman MP.

The timetable for the competition is as follows:

Wednesday 11 January 2017 – Competition launched and open for entry submissions

Friday 5 May 2017 – Closing date for entries

W/C Monday 15 May and Monday 22 May 2017 – Local judging

W/C Monday 29 May and Monday 5 June 2017 – National judging

W/C Monday 19 June and Monday 26 June – Prize Giving Event in the Palace of Westminster

Known as the silent killer because it cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, Carbon Monoxide is responsible for deaths, illness and hospitalisations each year.

First launched in 2007, the competition was previously run by charity CO-Gas Safety in partnership with the UK gas distribution networks (GDNs), but this year the GDNs, including Northern Gas Networks, have taken over the running of the competition.

The final will be judged at a presentation at the Palace of Westminster, and entrants stand a chance of winning the following prizes:

• National Winner: Winner will receive £300 for themselves and £600 for their school/organisation*
• Area Winner: Winners will receive £150 each and £300 for their school/organisation (which can include uniformed organisations such as Scouts, Brownies and Guides etc)

*National prize will be in addition to the area prize

Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy for NGN said: “At NGN we take the safety of customers very seriously so it is a pleasure to be involved in spreading such a vitally important message about the danger of CO.

“This toxic gas can be deadly, so engaging school children through art is a great way to raise awareness and hopefully educate whole families too.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to have some fun, exercise their creative talents and have a chance of winning some great prizes while relaying an important safety message.”

Entries can be emailed to COschoolcompetition@energynetworks.org by Friday 5 May 2017.

For further information including key dates see http://bit.ly/COSchoolSafetyComp

For Terms & Conditions see http://www.energynetworks.org/assets/files/news/releases-and-news/Terms_Conditions_GDN_CO_SchoolSafetyCompetition2017.pdf

More information on gas safety and how to get domestic and commercial appliances checked and installed by qualified engineers is also available at www.gassaferegister.co.uk/

Anyone who smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency helpline on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN) is carrying out preparatory work for an essential gas mains diversion project at Killingworth Road in Gosforth, Newcastle

The major project to divert a length of gas main away from a section of carriageway due for improvement will begin in earnest later this year, as part of a wider programme of essential maintenance and upgrades on the main route in and out of the city.

NGN will carry out initial exploratory work on behalf of Newcastle City Council on the weekend of Friday 13 January to Sunday 15 January. In order to complete this phase safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to temporarily close Killingworth Road between Back Gallalaw Terrace (north) and Salters Bridge near the city boundary during this time.

A clearly signed diversion route will be in place for motorists to follow, and access to properties on Back Gallalaw Terrace will be maintained while the works take place.

Site manager for NGN, Andy Coyne said: “We’ve been working closely with Newcastle City Council to carefully plan these works and will do all we can to minimise disruption to road users and local residents.

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused, and thank our customers for their patience as we look to complete the works as quickly and as safely as we can.”

For further information about the works please contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766, option 7 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk

Anyone that smells gas or suspects Carbon Monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week

The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing around £190,000 to upgrade the ageing metal gas distribution network in Wakefield Road, Back Chapel Lane, and Smithy Lane at Moldgreen, Huddersfield.

The project is part of NGN’s ongoing development of infrastructure in the area and involves replacing around 350m of existing metal gas mains with more durable plastic pipes, to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the area for years to come.

The project, which began on Monday 22 August, and has been planned in conjunction with Kirklees Council Highways to ensure all works are completed with as little disruption as possible, continues to progress well.

The majority of the scheme is now finished, and engineers returned to Wakefield Road on Wednesday 4 January to complete the final phase, which will take place in both lanes of the outbound carriageway.

In order to carry out the work safely and efficiently, a contraflow will be placed on the two inbound lanes for around one week.

If traffic flow dictates, it may also be necessary to suspend the right-hand turn from Wakefield Road on to Almondbury Bank. If this is required, motorists will be able to follow a clearly signed diversion route along Old Wakefield Road, as requested by Kirklees Council Highways.

During this time, the footpath next to the outbound carriageway on Wakefield Road will be closed, with a clearly signed diversion taking pedestrians on to Back Chapel Lane, Chapel Lane and Old Wakefield Road.

Engineers will then work under lane closures both inbound and outbound for four more weeks, with a further road closure introduced on Smithy Lane. A short diversion route will be in place for motorists to follow.

When work is taking place on the inbound carriageway of Wakefield Road, a foothpath closure will be in place. The diversion will take pedestrians on to Poplar Street and Smithy Lane.

On top of working Monday to Friday, engineers will be working Saturdays and Sundays to complete this phase as quickly as possible.

NGN Customer Care officers are continuing to visit local businesses to update customers on progress as work continues.

Neil Travers, Site Manager for Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with Kirklees Council to carefully plan these works in order to minimise disruption to customers.

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused and thank our customers for their patience and support in getting them completed as quickly as possible.”

For further information about the project please contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766, option 7 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk

Anyone that smells gas or suspects Carbon Monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.