Latest update you need to know as engineers tackle leak

Wales & West utilities has issued a significant update as engineers tackle a disruptive gas leak in Wiltshire.

A huge emergency response rushed to Chippenham on Tuesday, February 11, after a gas leak at a building site off Foundry Lane.

 

It has since been revealed that this leak was caused by a contractor working at the site after a digger damaged a gas pipe.

 

The incident has left many residents in the area without gas while Wales & West Utilities works to resolve the issue and restore the supply.

Engineers have been working at the scene since Tuesday afternoon and have now found a way to restore gas, although this is still expected to take some time due to the extent of the damage.

Network Service Manager Network Service Manager Martyn Pallant said: “Our team has worked through the morning to identify a way of restoring gas to customers in the area, as the required repair to the pipe is complex and could take some time.

The pipe was damaged by a third-party contractor working in the area.

 

“We have identified a way of reconfiguring how the system operates so that we can bring gas into the affected area which avoids the damaged section of pipe.

 

“This means that we are now able to now start restoring gas supplies to customers in a phased manner.

 

“This will take some time as we need to ensure we maintain pressure in the pipe as we bring customers back on.”

 

Residents have been urged to remain patient as engineers will be required to visit all affected properties to ensure that the gas supply has been safely restored.

Mr Pallant added: “Our engineers will visit all properties affected to ensure gas is safely restored to each one.

 

“Customers do not need to contact us to arrange a visit as our engineers are aware of the properties, but we do ask customers to be patient as we will need undertake the work in phases.

 

“We would like to thank local people for their continued patience while we continue work to get the gas flowing again.”

 

The incident has caused significant disruption and road closures were in place while fire crews, engineers, and the ambulance service worked at the scene on Tuesday.