The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing around £320,000 to upgrade ageing metal gas mains in Nevilles Cross Bank, A690, Durham.

Phase one of the project was successfully completed in April this year and phase two is scheduled to begin as planned on Monday 27 June.

The works are part of NGN’s ongoing replacement of the infrastructure in the region and will involve replacing nearly one kilometre of existing metal gas main with more durable plastic pipes, ensuring the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the area for years to come.

Phase two, the final part of the scheme, is expected to take around 13 weeks to complete.  The work has been planned to coincide with the school holidays to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum and is due to be finished in September.

The ageing metal gas main has required several emergency repairs in recent years. NGN has prioritised the pipe for replacement this year to minimise any inconvenience caused by future gas leaks.

In order to carry out this essential work safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to introduce various traffic management measures.

Initial works will start on the east side of Nevilles Cross Bank outside of Rhodes Terrace and progress north towards Prospect Terrace. During this time, there will be two-way traffic lights on Nevilles Cross Bank for four weeks.

A lane closure will be implemented and a signed diversion route put in place. The lane closure on Nevilles Cross Bank, from the junction of Homer Terrace will affect traffic travelling south. Motorists will be asked to follow the diversion route which will be via the A167, B6300 Browney Lane, to the junction of East View, which then re-joins the A690.

The lane closure will be in place for approximately six weeks, during which time works will take place on the west side of Nevilles Cross Bank and progress south.

The final weeks of the project will see works progress onto the A167 Darlington Road where there will be two-way traffic lights in place for approximately one week from the A690 junction up to the Enterprise garage.  Works will then progress to the junction of Dalston Crescent, however no traffic management measures will be in place as works will be undertaken in the footpath. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Shops and businesses will remain open as usual throughout the duration of the project.

NGN’s Customer Care Officers have door-knocked local homes and businesses to make customers aware of the work and will also use on-site signage to advise motorists of the scheme.

John Richardson, Customer Operations Area Manager at Northern Gas Networks said: “We have worked closely with Durham County Council to plan these works so that the majority takes place during the quieter school holiday period, minimising disruption to motorists and local residents.

“We appreciate customers in this part of Durham have experienced a fair degree of disruption in recent years as a result of repeated repairs to this ageing gas main which is why we have decided to prioritise these pipes for replacement.  The project has been delivered in two phases, but once complete, should not present any further problems.”

“We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience this essential work may cause and thank them for their patience and understanding.”

NGN’s gas mains replacement project on Nevilles Cross Bank, Durham, will be registered as a Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) site.

The CCS is a non-profit independent organisation founded by the construction industry to improve its image. NGN is registering all major projects and larger gas mains replacement sites where work is expected to take more than six weeks to complete with the Scheme.

The site will have a detailed inspection in due course by a CCS Monitor who will assess and feedback on factors such as the appearance of the site and the environment.

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

Anyone that smells gas or suspects Carbon Monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately 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) has signed up its Hull team to become a Hull UK City of Culture 2017 Business Club Partner.

The Business Club provides companies with a platform to show their support for the city and champion the 365 days of art and culture which begin in January. In return, partners can enjoy ticket allocation to events, VIP access to backstage, previews and pre-show talks unique to the UK City of Culture.

Employees working out of the Hull depot will also have opportunities to become Hull 2017 volunteers.

This is a chance to offer practical event support and welcome visitors to the city, but also for staff to act as ambassadors for Hull, helping to ensure its cultural legacy for years to come.

As a company with strong connections to the region, NGN transports gas to around 260,000 customers in the Hull area and employs around 60 people in a variety of roles across the patch.
In 2015/16, NGN invested nearly £800,000 in the Hull gas distribution network to replace 8,710 metres of gas main with more durable plastic pipe, ensuring the continued safe and reliable supply to customers in the area.

Mark Horsley, Chief Executive for Northern Gas Networks said: “Our customers in Hull show us tremendous support when we’re replacing gas mains in their streets, and ensuring the network remains safe and reliable.

“This is our team’s chance to repay that support and be part of a truly special time in the city’s history as well as its legacy for the future.”

Martin Green, CEO and Director of Hull 2017, said: “Businesses large and small have an important part to play in the success of a pivotal year for the city and we are delighted that NGN have become a Hull 2017 Business Club Partner.”

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

The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has crowned the 2016 winners of its Outstanding Presenter of the Year and Young Outstanding Presenter of the Year competitions.

NGN transports gas to 2.7 million homes and business across the North East, Cumbria and most of Yorkshire, to towns and cities including Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Leeds, Bradford and Carlisle.

NGN’s employee competition gives colleagues across the business a chance to develop and test themselves, moving away from the comfort zone of their regular role by standing in front of an audience and delivering a presentation.

After a series of regional heats, the final was held in conjunction with a schools final on Thursday 26 May at the Tetley in Leeds.

NGN’s 2016 winners: employee champion Ian Burns, and schools winner Cara Kelly.

This year’s winner was Customer Care Officer Ian Burns, whose topic ‘A Difficult Conversation’ covered the theme of men’s mental health and accessing available support. Ian, from Seaham in County Durham, joined NGN in January 2014, and won £100 of entertainment vouchers and an engraved glass trophy.

“I entered the competition to transfer skills I use in my job to a more business-related setting,” he said.

“I’ve given presentations in various forms in previous jobs before, but wanted to see if I still had the skills to do it.

“The topic was a very personal thing to me. Mental health is a focus point for the Considerate Constructors Scheme which NGN is signed up to, and we receive assessments for on our gas mains replacement projects. It was a chance for me to help someone who may have been in the room, suffering in silence.

“I’m really proud that the judges thought my presentation was worthy of the trophy. I feel really lucky as the standard was so high and everyone saved their best performance for the final.”

Meantime, the Young Outstanding Presenter of the Year winner was Year Nine student Cara Kelly of Leeds West Academy. She impressed judges including NGN chief executive Mark Horsley with a presentation on carbon monoxide (CO) awareness.

It’s the second time NGN has opened up its internal public speaking contest for employees to school students in Years 8 and 9, working alongside social enterprise the Ahead Partnership and registered charity Hull Children’s University.

The schools competition aims to equip students with skills they can develop throughout their school career and into working life during interviews or presentations. It also encourages pupils to consider jobs in an industry they perhaps would not have thought about before.

Five schools contested the Young Outstanding Presenter finals: Whitcliffe Mount in Cleckheaton, Leeds City Academy, Leeds West Academy, Bradford Academy and Leeds East Academy.

Business mentors – an NGN employee with knowledge of the chosen topic – were then assigned to schools to coach students on their technique and help with research. Students could deliver the presentations as they wished, using slides, props, or even NGN’s personal protective equipment.

Champion Cara dramatically opened her presentation to a 60-strong audience of fellow students, teachers and NGN employees by exhibiting the symptoms of CO poisoning: confusion and dizziness.

Her prize was a £20 book voucher with Leeds West Academy also receiving £100 of book vouchers.

Sarah Napier, Education and Employability Champion for NGN said: “It’s been an amazing year for the competition, and the amount of work that went into each presentation was immense. I was lucky enough to see everyone go through the heats, watch the journey they went on and see their confidence increase and skills develop the further along they went.

“Ian’s presentation was extremely honest and emphasised the fact that help that is out there and where to go to find support. Cara delivered a really important message, making it relevant and understandable for everyone in the room. “

NGN now hopes to build a video gallery of speakers and invite some of the competition participants to future board meetings, to share their messages with a wider audience.

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

The north of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing £170,000 to upgrade the ageing gas distribution network in Louis Street, Leeds.

The major project is part of NGN’s ongoing development of infrastructure in the area and will involve replacing 2.1km 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 begins the week starting 6 June and is expected to last around nine weeks with an estimated completion date of 12 August, has been carefully planned in conjunction with Leeds City Council to ensure all works are completed with as little disruption as possible.

Work will be carried out in three phases. The first will begin on 6 June at Leopold Street and last around five weeks before moving to Louis Street for the remaining four weeks of the scheme.

In order to complete the works as safely and efficiently as possible, traffic management measures will be in place throughout the project.

Road closures will be introduced on the following streets: Cross Louis Street at the junction of Leopold Street between 20 June – 1 July, Frankland Place at the junction of Leopold Street 27 June – 8 July; Cross Francis Street at the junction of Louis Street 4 July – 15 July, Frankland Place at the junction of Louis Street 11 July – 22 July, Frankland Place at the junction of Louis Street/corner of 3A Louis Street 25 July – 5 August, Cross Louis Street at the junction of Louis Street 1 August – 12 August.

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and NGN engineers will be on site from Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm.

Russ Oxley Services Area Manager Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with Leeds City Council to carefully plan these works in order to minimise any disruption.

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. Our Customer Care team have been door-knocking local customers to keep them informed, and we’d like to thank our customers for their patience and support in getting these works 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.

The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing in Ilkley’s gas infrastructure this year, replacing ageing metal gas mains with modern plastic pipes to ensure customers continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come.

The ten week project on the A65 Skipton Road began on 28 March 2016 and continues to progress well.

Engineers expect to finish the Skipton Road section of works this weekend (4-5 June) and permanently remove the temporary traffic lights. The pedestrian crossing will also reopen, and work will then move to Yew Tree Terrace the week beginning 6 June.

It’s estimated that the project will be completed in its entirety by 17 June.

Dean Woolley, Network Officer for Northern Gas Networks said:  “We’re continuing to make good progress on the A65 Skipton Road and the temporary traffic lights should be removed by Monday 6 June at the very latest. We’d like to thank our customers in Ilkley for their patience as we look to complete the work as quickly and as safely as possible.

“Our customers are extremely important to us and we’re continuing to listen to feedback from the community. If anyone would like to speak to the team they can contact us on 0800 040 7766 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk.  We’d like to thank everyone for bearing with us while we carry out these essential works.”

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) has become a BPEC accredited centre for carbon monoxide (CO) awareness training.

The British Plumbing Employers Council works in close partnership with further education colleges and private training providers, identifying education and training needs for those working within the building and engineering industries.

NGN’s emergency engineers are on the streets 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, responding to gas escapes.  They all carry specialist hand held CO detection equipment to detect dangerous levels of gas in the atmosphere.  They also deliver in-home CO safety briefings to around 4,000 vulnerable customers every year as part of the emergency response.
Through awareness events and wider social outreach, it became apparent to the gas distributer that more people could help spread awareness about the dangers of CO, known as ‘the silent killer’, which is odourless, colourless and kills around 50 people every year in the UK alone.

This year, NGN has put over 30 people through CO awareness training to BPEC standard, from Customer Care Officers to local stakeholders. NGN expects to reach 3,500 more people throughout the network every year with key CO messages as a result.

With BPEC accredited centre status, NGN is now hoping to roll this out across the wider business and deliver its own training over this year.

Tom Bell, NGN’s Head of Social Strategy said: “Many people aren’t aware of the potential dangers of CO, with only 12% of the UK owning an audible CO alarm. It’s important people recognise the signs of CO, which is odourless and colourless, and know how to stay safe at home or outdoors.

“Becoming an accredited centre for CO awareness training means NGN can deliver training to more of our staff, partners and community supporters, resulting in delivery of these vital safety messages to more of our customers.”
Working with fellow gas distributers NGN launched a CO awareness campaign aimed at campers and festival goers last year. The online game can be played at http://www.gdngames.co.uk/
Anyone that smells gas, or suspects Carbon Monoxide poisoning, symptoms of which can  include headaches, dizziness, nausea or breathlessness, should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing in Ilkley’s gas infrastructure this year, replacing ageing metal gas mains with modern plastic pipes to ensure customers continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come.

The ten week project began on the A65 Skipton Road on 28 March 2016 and continues to progress well, with another 180m of gas mains replaced in the last week.

This Bank Holiday weekend, engineers will temporarily remove the traffic management system to minimise disruption to road users.

The temporary traffic lights will be removed and the site left in a tidy condition today (Friday 27 May) and signs and barriers will remain in place.

Work will restart on the morning of Tuesday 31 May, with the temporary lights reinstated and manned 12 hours a day as before.

Ian Cunningham, Construction Services Area Manager for Northern Gas Networks, said:  “We’re making good progress and we’d like to thank our customers in Ilkley for their patience as we look to complete the work as quickly and as safely as possible.

“In order to accommodate traffic over the Bank Holiday weekend, the lights on the A65 will be temporarily removed on Friday evening (27 May). They will be reinstated on Tuesday morning (31 May).

“Our customers are extremely important to us and we’re continuing to listen to feedback from the community. If anyone would like to speak to the team they can contact us on 0800 040 7766 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk.  We’d like to thank everyone for bearing with us while we carry out these essential works.”

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 £186,000 to upgrade the ageing gas distribution network in Holmfield Road, Sutton-in-Craven.

The major project is part of NGN’s ongoing development of infrastructure in the area and will involve replacing 1.8km 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 starts the week beginning 30 May and will last approximately 15 weeks with an estimated completion date of 12 September, has been carefully planned in conjunction with North Yorkshire Council to ensure all works are completed with as little disruption as possible.

In order to complete the works as safely and efficiently as possible, traffic management measures will be in place throughout the project.  Three-way temporary traffic lights will be introduced on Manse Way at the junction of Holme Lane for approximately three weeks from Tuesday 31 May.

There will be parking restrictions during the scheme however access to driveways will be maintained at all times and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Engineers will be working Monday to Friday between 8am and 4pm.

Ian Cunningham, Construction Services Area Manager Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with North Yorkshire Council to carefully plan these works during the school holidays in order to minimise any disruption caused.

“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.

The north of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN) will begin diversion work to gas mains at Lindisfarne roundabout on the A19 and Leam Lane A194 in Jarrow next week.

The project has been planned in conjunction with South Tyneside Council, and will involve the diverting of gas mains away from a section of carriageway scheduled for improvements.

The three-week scheme will begin on Tuesday 31 May next to the Lindisfarne Roundabout recess access space, and to the bottom of the south-bound slip road at the north east corner of the roundabout.

In order to minimise traffic disruption there will be no lane closures, however to ensure the safety of engineers and road users, there will be a temporary footpath closure on the north east corner, and a signed pedestrian diversion route in place until the works are complete.

NGN’s Special Operations Design Manager Jamie McMaster said: “We’ve liaised closely with South Tyneside Council to carefully plan these works and ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.

“So we can complete the project as quickly and as safely as possible it will be necessary to close the footpath until the works are complete.

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

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

ENDS

The north of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing £182,000 to upgrade the ageing gas distribution network in Huddersfield Road, Skelmanthorpe.

The major project is part of NGN’s ongoing development of infrastructure in the area and will involve replacing 1.7km 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 begins on Monday 30 May and will last approximately 15 weeks, has been planned in conjunction with Kirklees Council to ensure all works are completed with as little disruption to customers as possible.

The project will be carried out in three phases.

Phase One will start the week beginning 30 May, beginning on Commercial Road at the four-way junction of Windmill Crescent, Highbridge Lane and Busker Lane, lasting around five weeks.

Phase two will take place from the week beginning 4 July on Lodge Street, Elm Street and Croft Head, lasting around five weeks.

The third and final phase of the project will commence the week of 9 August, on Manor Drive and Smithy Lane and will also last approximately five weeks.

A number of other streets will also be affected, the order of works is expected to run as follows: Huddersfield Road, Busker Lane, Chapel Close, Commercial Road, Croft Head, Elm Street, Lodge Street, Manor Drive, New Lane, Smithy Close, Smithy Lane, Thorpes Crescent.

In order to complete the works as safely and efficiently as possible, traffic management measures will be in place throughout the scheme.  Four-way temporary traffic lights will be in place on Commercial Road at the junction of Windmill Crescent, Highbridge Lane and Busker Lane for around one week from 30 May.

This will then change to two–way traffic signals on Commercial Road for a further five weeks.

A road closure will be introduced on New Lane at the junction of Commercial Lane for two weeks from 13 June, which will change to two-way traffic lights for a further three weeks.

As Commercial Road is a bus route it is expected there will be some delays to bus services, which will need to follow an alternative route whilst the road closure is in place.

A footpath closure will also be in place on the Windmill Crescent side of 180 Commercial Road from 6 June for approximately two weeks, however pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

NGN engineers will be working on site Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm.

Paul Jagger, Construction Services Area Manager Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with Kirklees Council to plan these works and minimise any 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 these works 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.

ENDS

About Northern Gas Networks

Northern Gas Networks own all the gas mains in the North East, most of Yorkshire and northern Cumbria transporting gas to 2.7 million homes and businesses.

The network consists of 37,000km of gas mains, enough to stretch from Leeds to Sydney, Australia and back.

Our mains replacement programme will see 3,800km of old metal gas main replaced with modern plastic equivalents by 2021.

For more information please visit our website www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk

www.facebook.com/northerngasnetworks

Follow us @NGNgas

You can contact Northern Gas Network’s press office on: 0113 3227950 during office hours (between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday – Friday, excluding Bank Holidays) or call the out of hours service on 0113 3227978 at any other time.

You can contact the Northern Gas Networks Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766, option 7. The team is available between 8am and 10pm Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturday.