Around 4,600 properties have had their supply cut off – emergency equipment is being offered as well as extra help for the most vulnerable
File image of Wales and West Utilities(Image: Penny Cross / Plymouth Live)
Over 100 engineers are working to restore gas supply to thousands of properties after a mains pipe was damaged in Devon.
A third-party damaged a gas main near Kingsbridge yesterday (Saturday, January 3) which resulted in around 4,600 properties being affected.
People in Kingsbridge, Malborough and Salcombe have been without gas heating since the pipeline was damaged, cutting off supply.
Wales and West Utilities engineers worked overnight and have repaired the damaged main, but all affected properties need to be visited twice, to turn off supply and then turn it on again.
The work is ongoing, and progress is being made as Wales and West has over 100 people working across the areas.
At the time of reporting, engineers have visited 60 per cent of affected properties, with additional workers being brought in from across the network to assist.
Follow our live blog here for the latest updates.
Vulnerable customers are being supported and alternative cooking and heating facilities have been provided to those affected.
South Hams District Council has said: “Supplies are available at Malborough Village Hall and Salcombe Rugby Club for anyone who still needs them.”
A spokesperson for Wales and West Utilities said: “Following damage caused by a third-party to our gas main near Kingsbridge in Devon, gas supplies to around 4,600 properties have been impacted in Kingsbridge, Malborough and Salcombe.
“Our team worked into the night repairing the pipe on what was a very challenging repair and this was completed successfully.
“As part of the process to restore supplies, we are continuing to visit every property with a gas supply and switch off the supply at the control valve which is located near the meter.
“We have over 100 engineers working across the areas and we have already visited 60 per cent of properties. It will really help speed up the process for restoring the gas if people can make every effort to be in today when our engineers call.
“We have also drafted in additional engineers from elsewhere across our network to support with this work.”
There is a yellow weather warning in place until midday tomorrow (Monday, January 5) across Devon, as forecasters warn of snow and ice.
As temperatures are forecast to plummet to below freezing again tonight across the entire South West, South Hams District Council has issued advice on how to stay warm:
- Do not light a fire indoors unless you have a proper heating appliance for this purpose or a fireplace with a working chimney.
- Do not use camping stoves and barbecues indoors as there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can kill.
- Do not use petrol or diesel generators or other similar fuel driven equipment indoors as the exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide.
- Be very careful when using heating appliances that are not mains powered. If you have a portable gas heater that uses gas bottles and is approved for indoor use, make sure the room is well ventilated and follow all instructions carefully as the fumes can be dangerous.
- You are advised to wear several thin layers of clothing and wrap up warm. While you are sitting, keep your feet raised because air near the floor is colder.
- Get up and move around and stretch at least every hour. Get everyone in the house to gather in one room to share warmth.
- Put something like a towel or sheet under the doors of the rooms you are using to reduce draughts. Close your curtains and blinds when it gets dark to help keep the heat in. Use blankets or sheets to cover your windows if you don’t have curtains or blinds. Close the windows and doors in rooms you are not using.
- Becoming very cold can have serious effects on your health. Look out for the signs of hypothermia in people in your home. You are looking for shivering, cold and dry skin, skin and lips that are blue or grey, which may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet of black or brown skin, slurred speech, slow breathing and appearing tired or confused.
- If you are concerned for someone’s health please contact NHS Direct on 111 for non-emergency advice or 999 in an emergency.
Full Wales and West statement
Third party damage caused to gas main near Kingsbridge“Following damage caused by a third-party to our gas main near Kingsbridge in Devon, gas supplies to around 4,600 properties have been impacted in Kingsbridge, Malborough and Salcombe.“Our team worked into the night repairing the pipe on what was a very challenging repair and this was completed successfully.Vulnerable Customers“We are continuing our work to support customers in the area registered on the Priority Services Register by providing them with alternative cooking and heating facilities. We continue to ask anyone who is aware of a family member or neighbour who may be vulnerable to check in on them. If anyone is aware of someone that still requires alternative heating or cooking facilities then we have supplies at Malborough Village Hall and at Salcombe (Rugby Club) which people can come and collect.Also, if any customer on the Priority Service Register is concerned about not being able to prepare a meal, we advise them to contact us.Supply Restoration Update“As part of the process to restore supplies, we are continuing to visit every property with a gas supply and switch off the supply at the control valve which is located near the meter. We have over 100 engineers working across the areas and we have already visited 60% of properties. It will really help speed up the process for restoring the gas if people can make every effort to be in today when our engineers call.“We have also drafted in additional engineers from elsewhere across our network to support with this work.Malborough“As we have now isolated the majority of properties in Marlbotough, we are now in a position to begin restoring supplies to this area. Customers are reminded that in order for this to be done safely, one of our engineers will need to visit each property again to ensure their gas is turned back on safely. We will visit each property as quickly as we can but we ask people remain patient and bear with us as we try to get to everyone as quickly as we can.KingsbridgeOur engineers are continuing to work hard to isolate supplies and we have already visited 62% of properties there. We have 60 people working as hard as they can to visit the remaining properties as quickly as they can.SalcombeOur engineers are also continuing to work hard to isolate supplies here and we have already visited 55% of properties there. We have 40 people working as hard as they can to visit the remaining properties as quickly as they can.Important information“If for whatever reason you are not in when we call, we will leave a card with information on how to contact us to have your gas supply returned safely.“If at any point anyone smells gas, please call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999.‘We also remind customers that our engineers will have their ID badges with them and will be happy for you verify their identification by calling our ID verification line on 0800 316 0478.Thank you“We continue to appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to restore supplies and would like to thank people for this. We will provide a further update later today.”