In March, the North of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks, will be beginning work to dismantle St Anthony’s gas holder in Walker, Newcastle.

St Anthony’s is a 135ft (41m) tall, steel construction built in 1902 and could store up to 5.4 million cubic feet of gas – enough to supply more than 7000 homes for a full day, or 170,000 homes for an hour.

For around 100 years the holder was a vital part of the local gas supply system, responsible for supplying gas to thousands of residents in the area.  In more recent years it has been used to bolster the network’s gas supplies during colder weather, and at peak times in the early evenings. Advances in technology and the enhanced capability of the modern-day gas network, however, mean that this gas holder is no longer required.

Earlier this month Northern Gas Networks held a community forum with local residents, to explain the decommissioning process, answer any questions and concerns, and encourage members of the public to share their memories of the holder.

Main works contractor KDC will commence work to dismantle the gas holder, using tried and tested techniques to clear the site in a safe and environmentally friendly way.  Long-armed shears will be used to take apart the structure and the site will be cleared of all redundant equipment. The work will take approximately 16 weeks to complete.

Tim Harwood, Programme Manager Major Projects said; “The decision has been made to dismantle St Anthony’s gas holder as it no longer serves a purpose in maintaining gas supplies to the local area. The ongoing costs of keeping the gas holder in good repair have become economically unviable.”

As part of the deconstruction work, a number of environmental initiatives are being considered such as treating and solidifying the oily sludge that has settled at the bottom of the gasholder tank, recycling all the steel and wraught iron from the gasholder and re-using the spoil dug up from Northern Gas Networks essential gas mains replacement works in the area, to backfill the site. This helps to reduce Northern Gas Networks’ carbon footprint, saving trips to landfill sites and the need to import expensive stone from local quarries.

St Anthony’s gas holder has become a local landmark over the years, and Northern Gas Networks is encouraging local residents or workers to share their memories and photographs of the gas holder, by emailing them to gasholdermemories@northerngas.co.uk or contacting us through Facebook or Twitter.

The column-guided design of St Anthony’s gas holder includes three separate massive diameter sections which lift telescopically as the holder fills with gas.

The UK’s gasholders were originally built to store gas made from coal at a local gasworks. With the discovery of North Sea gas, the gas holders increasingly became redundant and were eventually phased out as new gas pipelines were laid to supply gas to homes.

For further information about this project, please contact our Customer Care team on 0845 634 0508 and select option 7.

Northern Gas Networks will be investing £100,000 to replace ageing metal gas mains in Normanby Road, Middlesbrough with new durable plastic pipes to ensure the continued, safe and reliable supply of gas to residents in the area for years to come.

The essential work will be carried out in two phases.

The first phase will commence on Thursday 27 February and is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete.

In order to carry out the first phase of this work safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to close the inside lane of Trunk Road and the inside lane of Normanby Road.

The second phase of the project will get underway week commencing Monday 24 March and is expected to take approximately three weeks to complete. In order to carry out this work, a single lane closure will be in place on Normanby Road outside the leisure centre.

Gordon Thompson, Customer Operations Area Manager, Northern Gas Networks said; “We have planned our work closely with Middlesbrough Council, to minimise disruption to both residents and motorists.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this essential work may cause and thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding.”

If you have any questions about the works please don’t hesitate to contact the Customer Care team on 0845 634 0508, option 7. The team is available between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturday.

If you smell gas or suspect Carbon Monoxide please call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the north of England’s gas distributer, held a Carbon Monoxide (CO) awareness session in Brookfield, Middlesbrough to raise awareness about the dangers of CO – the silent killer.

Two of Northern Gas Network’s Middlesbrough based employees – Andy Goodfellow, Emergency Officer and Chris Broad, Technician delivered a presentation to around 40 members of the Brookfield Community Consul, to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning, and ways to prevent it in their home.

Andy Goodfellow, Emergency Officer said, “Northern Gas Networks is committed to raising awareness about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide – a poisonous, odourless and colourless gas which kills around 50 people each year in the UK.

“The CO awareness session we held in Brookfield is just one of many initiatives Northern Gas Networks has launched to help protect our customers across the north of England from the risks of CO.”

Mr Goodfellow said, “The Brookfield Community session was a fantastic opportunity to get our potentially lifesaving messages out to a group of people who are influential in the area.

“We now need those who attended to help us spread the word amongst their friends and family.”

If you smell gas or suspect Carbon Monoxide in your home, please call the National Gas Emergency number 0800 111 999 any time day or night.

Northern Gas Networks is replacing approximately 500 metres of ageing metal gas mains in Langley Moor, Durham with new durable plastic pipes to ensure the continued, safe and reliable supply of gas to residents in the area for years to come.

The essential work will commence on Tuesday 25 February and is expected to take four weeks to complete.

In order to carry out this work safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to put a road closure in place on Little Burn Lane for the duration of the project.

It will also be necessary to install temporary traffic lights on Rosebay Road whilst work is being carried out.

Shops and businesses will remain open as usual.

John Richardson, Customer Operations Area Manager, Northern Gas Networks said; “We have planned our work closely with Durham County Council, to minimise disruption to both residents and motorists.

“In advance of the work taking place, a letter has been sent to local residents. Our Customer Care Officers have also been speaking with residents and businesses in the area to ensure that they are aware of the work.

Mr Richardson added, “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this essential work may cause and thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding.”

If you smell gas or suspect Carbon Monoxide please call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.

Northern Gas Networks will be investing £40,000 to replace approximately 390 metres of ageing metal gas mains in Driffield with new durable plastic pipes to ensure the continued, safe and reliable supply of gas to residents in the area for years to come.

The essential work will commence on Monday 24 March and is expected to take seven weeks to complete.

In order to carry out this work safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to put a road closure in place on Exchange Street for approximately seven weeks from Monday 24 March. Diversion routes will be clearly marked.

Three way traffic lights will also be in place at the junction of Cranwell Road and Exchange Street for approximately three weeks from Monday 31 March.

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

Garry Farnhill, Customer Operations Area Manager, Northern Gas Networks said; “We have planned our work closely with Driffield Town Council, to minimise disruption to both residents and motorists.

“In advance of the work taking place, a letter is being sent to residents, businesses and stakeholders. Our Customer Liaison team is also door-knocking residents and businesses in the area to help ensure they are aware of the work.

“We are also holding two community forums prior to work commencing, where members of the public can find out more about the work, ask questions or raise any concerns.”

The first forum will take place on Wednesday 12 March from 5.00pm to 7.00pm at Driffield Methodist Church, Middle Street North, Driffield, Y025 6SS.

A second forum will take place at the same venue on Wednesday 19 March from 12.00pm to 2.00pm.

Mr Farnhill added, “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this essential work may cause and thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding.”

If you have any questions about the works please don’t hesitate to contact the Customer Care team on 0845 634 0508, option 7. The team is available between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturday.

Northern Gas Networks is carrying out essential work to repair a gas main in the Bramley area of Leeds.

In order to carry out this work safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to close Wyther Lane between Bridge Street and Broad Lane from 8.00pm Friday 14 February to 8.00pm Sunday 16 February. Diversions are in place.

Richard Hynes Cooper, Customer Operations Area Manager for Northern Gas Networks said, “Please be assured that we are working hard to complete this essential work as quickly as possible, with minimum disruption to motorists.

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.”

You can contact the Northern Gas Networks Customer Care team on 0845 634 0508, option 5. The team is available between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturday.

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

A single lane closure will be in place from 9.30am tomorrow morning (Thursday 13 February) on the city bound stretch of the Ponteland Road, Kenton Bar, for around 50 yards from the Kenton Bar roundabout.  The closure will remain in place while engineers from Northern Gas Networks safely carry out emergency repair work to a gas main.

The outside lane will remain fully open throughout the essential work and we would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during this time.  If you smell gas please call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

Northern Gas Networks will be investing £615,000 to replace approximately 9km of ageing metal gas mains in Newcastle with new durable plastic pipes to ensure the continued, safe and reliable supply of gas to residents in the area for years to come.

The essential work will be carried out in several phases commencing in Broadway West and Park Avenue on Monday 27 January.

In order to carry out the work safely and efficiently, at various stages throughout the project it may be necessary to put traffic management systems such as temporary traffic lights and lane closures in place.

Paul Common, Customer Operations Area Manager, Northern Gas Networks said; “We have planned our work closely with Newcastle City Council Highways Department, to minimise disruption to both residents and motorists.

“We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding, and apologise in advance for any inconvenience this essential work may cause.”

If you have any questions about the works please don’t hesitate to contact the Customer Care team on 0845 634 0508, option 7. The team is available between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturday.

Hugh Bayley MP, York Central, met with Northern Gas Networks today (20 January) as the first stage of the final phase of a major project to replace ageing metal gas mains in York city centre was completed.

Work on Goodramgate finished last week and road traffic diversions have been removed today (20 January). Work on St Maurice’s Road is currently underway and is expected to take two weeks to complete.  One lane on St Maurice’s Road, towards the junction with Goodramgate, will remain closed to traffic so that the works can continue to be carried out safely and efficiently. 

The final phase of the work will be carried out in Lawrence Street in the Spring, and this will take approximately four weeks to complete. 

Pete Knapton, Site Manager at Northern Gas Networks said: “The final stage of these essential replacement works is now underway and work is progressing well.  We’ve been working closely with City of York Council, local residents and businesses to minimise disruption and we want to thank everyone in York for their support and understanding throughout the project.”

Hugh Bayley, MP said: “We are now in the final stages of the work. Replacing this amount of pipework has been a huge task and inevitably there has been some inconvenience but Northern Gas Networks have tried to minimise the disruption and have kept everyone informed about the progress. The completed work will ensure York’s future gas supply remains safe and reliable.”

Cllr Dave Merrett, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability at City of York Council said: “This is an important upgrade for York, which is set to benefit thousands of residents and businesses. We’re pleased with the progress Northern Gas Network has made and we have been working closely with them to minimise disruption for local residents and businesses.”

Northern Gas Networks re-opened its customer cabin in Deansgate in the city centre at the beginning of January. The cabin provides a drop in facility for members of the public to get the latest information about the work and ask any questions that they may have.

The cabin is open Mondays and Thursdays from 11.00am to 1.00pm.

More information about our work can be found on Northern Gas Networks website and the company will be continuing to share regular updates on Twitter and Facebook.

Anyone that smells gas should ring the national gas emergency service, anytime, day or night on 0800 111 999.

Northern Gas Networks will be carrying out essential repair work on a gas main in the Sea Road area of Sunderland, to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to residents in the area for years to come.

Work will commence on Sunday, 19 January at the junction of Sea Road and Fulwell Road and is expected to take seven days to complete.

In order to carry out the work safely and efficiently, it will be necessary to switch off the permanent traffic lights at the junction of Sea Road and Fulwell Road and erect temporary four-way traffic lights to help ease the flow of traffic in the area.

Temporary bus stops will be in place on Fulwell Road and Sea Road for the duration of the work.

John Richardson, Customer Operations Area Manager, Northern Gas Networks said; “We would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused and thank everyone for their patience whilst this essential work is being carried out.”

If you have any questions about the works please don’t hesitate to contact the Customer Care team on 0845 634 0508, option 7. The team is available between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturday.