Thank you for your interest in this story

To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

Oct 2021

Last Updated: 22/10/2021

Community

Harrogate gas leak: cause still not revealed as roadworks continue

by John Plummer

| 22 Oct, 2021

One week on, Northern Gas Networks still hasn't revealed what caused the leak that left 3,000 homes without gas. The Ripon Road roadworks, where the problem is believed to have started, are due to continue for another six days.

Part of Ripon Road is closed due to a gas leak.

Northern Gas Networks has yet to reveal what caused the leak that left 3,000 Harrogate homes without gas last weekend.

Gas could be smelled for miles around following the incident at the Ripon Road roadworks near the Hydro leisure centre. Thousands of electric fan heaters, electric hobs and food vouchers were distributed to residents in the Jennyfields area.

An emergency hub opened at the Styan Community Centre to help those affected.

One week on, the cause remains unknown and the roadworks, which were initially due to last for four weeks from September 6, are still ongoing.

John Richardson, director of customer operations at Northern Gas Networks, said a "full investigation" would take place after a new pipe was laid.

He said:

“Our engineers are continuing to closely monitor the gas network in the Jennyfields area of Harrogate while we complete our essential work.

“We’re aware that some people were experiencing low gas pressure yesterday, which occurred while we worked to permanently repair the gas pipe. Our engineers responded promptly and normal pressures were restored the same day.

“We worked around the clock, laying a further over-land bypass pipe to increase the gas available to the local network and also increased gas pressure in the area to ensure that supplies were maintained while our engineers worked.

Gas leak: Harrogate told to reduce heating and showers again

Harrogate man Daniel Ainsley found guilty of murder

“Once a new pipe has been commissioned this weekend, we will be carrying out a full investigation into the cause of the gas escape, which occurred on Friday 15 October.

“Temporary two way traffic lights will remain in place at the junction with Grainbeck Lane and Otley Road for another week while we complete our essential work to modernise the gas network in Harrogate."

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire County Council, the highways authority, said:

"We approved an extension to the roadworks on October 6 lasting until October 22. Northern Gas Networks has since requested an extension until October 28."

Thank you for your interest in this story

Harrogate gas leak: cause still not revealed as roadworks continue

Read more: