Local stakeholders and members of the community attended Northern Gas Networks’ (NGN) first ever depot open day in Sunderland earlier this week, to find out more about what NGN (the gas distributer for the North of England) does, how it does it and future plans for the Wear area.

The attendees were given the opportunity to find out more about NGN’s educational initiatives including safety awareness programmes in local schools and were given the chance to see first-hand some of the new technology NGN is using such as Core and Vac, which reduces the amount of time taken to find a gas leak and make a repair from days to hours.

John Richardson, Customer Operations Area Manager for the Wear area, which spans Gateshead in the north to Peterlee in the south said, “We were delighted to see so many people turn up to our first ever depot day.

“Northern Gas Networks provides an essential service to the local community each and every day, so it was a great opportunity to share more information about the work we do and also get some direct feedback from our customers and stakeholders to help us continuously improve the service we provide.”

Photo caption: Councillor Doris Turner braces the rain for a demonstration of NGN’s Core n Vac technology. Pictured left to right: Michael Thompson, NGN Gas Operative; Councillor Doris Turner; Ross Thompson, NGN Team Leader; Oliver Clay, NGN Team Leader

The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing £35,000 to upgrade the ageing metal gas mains on Denby Dale Road Wakefield.

This major project is part of NGN’s ongoing investment in infrastructure throughout the region and will involve replacing around 340m 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 commence on Monday 21st March and take approximately three weeks to complete, has been carefully planned in conjunction with Wakefield Council to ensure the essential work is carried out with as little disruption to members of public as possible.

Paul Gordon, Construction Services Area Manager at Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with Wakefield Council to carefully plan these works and will be doing all we can to minimise any disruption caused.”

In order to carry out the work safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to put a lane closure in place from the junction of Cotton Avenue to Thornes Lane for three weeks from Monday 21^st March. NGN will endeavour to maintain pedestrian access at all times.

To ensure that work is completed as quickly and efficiently as possible, engineers will be working seven days a week from 8am to 5pm.

Mr Gordon added: “We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience this essential work may cause and thank members of the public for their patience and support.”

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 distributor, Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has begun trialling work vans powered by liquefied natural gas in its fleet with the aim of cutting fuel emissions and improving fuel economy.

The first vehicle, a VW caddy, was introduced earlier this month in Leeds and a second van is due to arrive in May.

The vans are being put through their paces to see how they perform in a variety of work scenarios.

The trial is part of a wider project with Leeds City Council to construct a natural gas refuelling station in Leeds. Vehicles will refuel at Leeds City Councils refilling station as part of the arrangement.

Natural gas cuts particulate matter – which is very harmful to our health – by almost 100 per cent and nitrogen oxides by around 90 per cent. It also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by around a quarter.

Trent Mapp, Fleet Manager at NGN said: “At Northern Gas Networks we want to play a key role in the future of gas by trialling new and imaginative projects that have the potential to help deliver a more sustainable future.

“New, sustainable forms of gas can be used for a range of purposes – heat homes, power vehicles and even run entire cities!  Although it’s early days, using natural gas to power vehicles presents an exciting prospect.”

For more information go to www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk

Plans to build and run a green fuelling station in Leeds have taken a step forward with a major funding announcement for Leeds City Council and Northern Gas Networks (NGN).

Ofgem has awarded the north of England’s gas distributor, Northern Gas Networks, working in partnership with the council, £700,000 from its Network Innovation Competition (NIC) meaning the project has moved even closer to becoming a reality.

NGN and the council wish to work in partnership with the private sector to build and run a compressed natural gas filling station to improve air quality in the city and reduce carbon emissions with construction due to get underway in 2017 if successful.

Compressed natural gas cuts particulate matter – which is very harmful to our health – by almost 100 per cent and nitrogen oxides by around 90 per cent. It also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by around a quarter.

While willing to invest in compressed natural gas filling stations, private companies are cautious due to the high cost of connecting to the gas mains unless there is an established market.

However, without a fuelling station, people and businesses who are keen to go green are unable to buy vehicles that run on compressed natural gas.  The funding awarded under the NIC will allow for this chicken and egg situation to be tackled.

The council has already agreed to convert its refuse collection fleet to run on compressed natural gas with an investment of £1.58 million over five years to demonstrate to investors that there is a clear, ready-made client and prove the business case.

NGN’s role will be to construct the high pressure pipeline feeding the station.

Andy Irwin, Head of Innovation & Futures at NGN said: “There are still some significant hurdles to overcome before the project can become a reality, but the funding is an important step forward.”

He continued: “We believe that this project will offer significant benefits to the Leeds region.  There is potential to open the fuelling station to any ‘back to depot’ vehicle including buses, taxis and commercial fleet, including our own vans. In fact, we’re currently trialling vans powered by natural gas in our fleet.”

Leeds City Council’s executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, Councillor Richard Lewis said: “If we want a cleaner, greener, healthier city we need to create the conditions that will deliver a more sustainable future. There’s still a long way to go but the funding is a clear signal that our plans, for what could be the UK’s biggest compressed natural gas station, have merit.

“Investing in the conversion of our fleet of 70 bin lorries is just the start. If our long-term plans come to fruition, haulage firms, bus and coach companies and fleets of vans could make the switch too with a ready-made fuelling station and proven business case, making vast improvements to air quality and the environment.”

The council has formed a dedicated project team to appoint a station operator. The project is expected to commence in 2016, with construction starting before the end of 2017.  The station will be situated in the Aire Valley within the vicinity of the Leeds Enterprise Zone.

Converting the council’s refuse collection vehicles to run on compressed natural gas will make a significant dent in the council’s emissions.

Five bin wagons already run on liquefied natural gas which has cut harmful emissions and offer better fuel economy.

For more information go to www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk

Earlier this year, the north of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), began work to replace 250 metres of ageing metal gas mains in Narrowgate, Alnwick, with more durable plastic pipes.

Work has been progressing well and engineers are now nearing the final phase.

Andrew Rodda, site manager at Northern Gas Networks said: “Our essential gas mains replacement work in Alnwick is progressing ahead of schedule and the work is on track for completion ahead of the Easter holidays.

“We will be carrying out work to resurface sections of road on Narrowgate on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 March.  This work has been planned to take place from 6pm onwards in order to minimise the disruption caused to customers and local businesses.”

Shops and businesses will continue to remain open as usual and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

In order to enable engineers to carry out the work safely and efficiently parking will be suspended on Narrowgate from Iceland to Superdrug from 12 noon on Tuesday 8 March until 10am on Thursday 10 March 2016.

Mr Rodda added: “We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience this essential work may cause and thank members of the public for their patience and support.”

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 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 £60,000 to upgrade the ageing metal gas distribution network in Castleford.

The major project is part of NGNs’ ongoing development of infrastructure in the area and will involve replacing around 700m of existing metal gas mains in Leeds Road in the Allerton Bywater area of Castleford, with more durable plastic pipes to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to our customers in the area for years to come.

The project, which will commence on Monday 21 March and is scheduled to last approximately five weeks, has been planned in conjunction with Leeds City Council to ensure all works are completed with as little disruption to members of public as possible.

Russ Oxley, Construction Services Area Manager at Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with Leeds City Council to carefully plan these works and will be doing all we can to minimise any disruption caused.

In order to carry out the works as safely and efficiently as possible, it will be necessary to put a number of traffic management measures in place.

• Two-way temporary traffic lights will be in place from Monday 21 March for two weeks from the junction of Leeds Road and Manor Park Avenue to the junction with Blands Avenue.

• Three-way temporary traffic lights will be place for a further two weeks from 4 April at the junction of Main Street, Park Lane and Leeds Road.
• Two-way temporary traffic lights will be in place for two weeks from April 18 at the junction of Blands Avenue and Leeds Road to the junction of Westfield Grove.

In order to ensure the continued flow of traffic, the temporary traffic lights will be manually operated during peak commuting times (6.30am – 9.30am and 3.30pm – 6pm) however some delays are expected and road users are being advised to find an alternative route where possible.

Engineers will be working Monday to Friday from 8am – 5pm at the request of the local council. The works are expected to affect local bus routes and NGN has been liaising with the local bus companies to make them aware.

Russ continued: “We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these works, and would like to thank you for your patience throughout these essential works.”

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 £25,000 to upgrade the ageing metal gas mains on Station Lane, Pontefract.

This major project is part of NGNs’ ongoing investment in infrastructure throughout the region and will involve replacing around 250m 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 commence on Monday 21 March and take approximately two weeks to complete, has been carefully planned in conjunction with Wakefield Council to ensure the essential work is carried out with as little disruption to members of public as possible.

Warren Iveson, Construction Services Area Manager at Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with Wakefield Council and Network Rail to carefully plan these works and will be doing all we can to minimise any disruption caused.”

To ensure that we get the works completed as quickly and efficiently as possible engineers will be working seven days a week from 8am to 5pm.

In order to carry out works safely and efficiently a road closure will be in place on Station Lane from the Last Orders pub to the railway crossing.

The bus stop on Station Road will be temporarily suspended throughout this work. Alternative bus stops are available on Green Lane and Pontefract Road.

NGN will endeavour to maintain pedestrian access at all times.

NGN is holding a community drop-in session at the Last Orders pub on Tuesday 1 March from 4pm – 6pm to offer an opportunity for members of the public to meet the team, find out more about the work and ask any questions that they may have.

Warren continued: “We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience this essential work may cause and thank members of the public for their patience and support.”

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.

Four of the north of England’s utility companies are joining forces as part of Infrastructure North to launch a free energy saving guide, ‘Energy at home’, to mark Fuel Poverty Awareness Day on 26 February.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN), Northern Powergrid, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water, who together make up Infrastructure North, have launched a guide to highlight ways to use energy and water more efficiently in the home.

Through simple and practical advice, ‘Energy at Home’ aims to help reduce household carbon emissions and save money on bills.

It is estimated that 24% of households in the north of England are living in fuel poverty, where individuals are unable to heat their home to the level needed to stay warm, comfortable and healthy.
This booklet is part of a larger plan by the Infrastructure North group to help support those living in fuel poverty, and is hoped that it will raise awareness of the issue whilst highlighting the range of help and support that is available to vulnerable members of the community.

As well as simple and practical energy efficiency advice the guide also provides water saving tips, health and safety advice and information about fuel poverty, fuel debt, switching fuel suppliers and heating and insulation.

Commenting on behalf of Infrastructure North, Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy at Northern Gas Networks said: “Our region contains some of the most deprived parts of England, where fuel poverty is high and job opportunities are scarce.  By launching our Infrastructure North energy efficiency guide to coincide with Fuel Poverty Awareness Day we hope that it will help to raise awareness of the issue of fuel poverty whilst highlighting the range of help and support that is available to vulnerable residents.

“Now is a great time to get a copy of our Infrastructure North energy efficiency guide and find out what extra help may be available to ensure your home is warm ahead of next winter.”

There are many simple steps that can be taken to reduce the amount of energy that it used in the home, cut energy bills and help the environment. These include checking to see if you are eligible for any discounts on your energy bills or financial assistance with heating or insulation improvements. Energy bills can also be reduced by using less hot water.

Northern Powergrid, Northern Gas Networks, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water are responsible for making sure residents across the north of England have a safe and reliable supply of electricity, gas and water to their homes.  They work together as Infrastructure North to tackle the social issues that affect communities throughout the north of England, finding ways to best invest in local areas to find solutions to wider social issues.

To view or download a copy of Infrastructure North’s energy efficiency booklet visit

www.infrastructurenorth.co.uk/energysavingguide

For further information on Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, visit: www.nea.org.uk.

Our region contains some of the most deprived parts of England, where fuel poverty is high and job opportunities are scarce.

To mark Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (26 February 2016) we’re sharing a snapshot of some of the vital work we’ve been doing.

The North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), is investing £100,000 to upgrade ageing metal gas mains in the Keldgate and Lairgate area in Beverley.

This major project is part of NGNs’ ongoing investment in infrastructure throughout the region and will involve replacing over 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 seven week project, which commenced on Monday 8 February on Keldgate, has been carefully planned in conjunction with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Beverley Town Council to minimise disruption to members of the public.

Bob Hope, Construction Services Area Manager at Northern Gas Networks said: “We have been working closely with East Riding of Yorkshire Council to carefully plan these works and we will be doing all we can to minimise any disruption caused.”

The work will be carried out on several roads, including:

Keldgate (B1230)

Lairgate (A164)

Admiral Walker Road junction

Champney Road

Elwell Avenue

In order to carry out the works safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to close Keldgate from Monday 15 February for four weeks and Lairgate from Monday 28 March for one week. A signed diversion will be in place for road users and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

NGN’s Customer Care Officers have been door knocking local homes and businesses to make customers aware of the work.  Shops and businesses will remain open as usual.

NGN held a customer forum at the Beverley Memorial Hall, Lairgate, HU17 8HN on Wednesday 3 February. The session provided an opportunity for customers to drop by and speak to members of the Customer Care team who were on hand to listen to customers, answer any questions about the project and provide detailed information about future planned investment in Beverley.

Bob continued: “We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience this essential work may cause and thank members of the public for their patience and support.”

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 on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.