MORE than 2,000 metres of gas mains are due to be replaced in Ellesmere Port and Neston during 3021/22.
Details of a programme to upgrade the North West’s oldest gas mains, some of which were installed over 100 years ago, has been published, as the region’s gas network gets ready to begin its 2021/22 programme.
Every year, Cadent replaces about 300 to 350 miles of its 21,000-mile North West underground pipe distribution system. These are mostly ageing metallic mains nearing the natural end of their safe operating lives.
Upgrading to plastic ensures a long-term safe network and helps get it ready for the introduction of greener gases like hydrogen and biomethane, which are both essential to the UK achieving net zero carbon emissions.
The programme confirmed for April 2021 to March 2022 includes 485,178 metres of gas mains in the North West region [see table below for a breakdown by local authority area].
This is the same length as more than 4,600 football pitches, or the same height at more than 3,000 Blackpool Towers. It is almost double the distance, as the crow flies, from the middle of Manchester to central London.
And it represents at least £50m investment in the North West gas network, with more than 600 engineers employed to deliver the work.
Cadent has been working with the highways authorities to agree the best and least disruptive timings to carry out these essential upgrade.
Details have also been shared with local councils and other groups.
Letters are sent to properties in the vicinity of the work areas in the weeks leading up to start dates.
The programme will factor in, and seek to avoid clashing with, any major events that may take place once Covid19 restrictions are lifted.
“More than 80 per cent of homes in the North West rely on gas for central heating and it’s our job to make sure they get it, safely and reliably, every minute of every day of the year,” said Craig Horrocks, who heads Cadent’s gas mains upgrade work in the region.
“We’re also excited by the arrival soon of hydrogen to our networks, a zero-carbon gas at point of use, as well as low-carbon biomethane, a gas made from waste.
“Both are essential to the UK reaching its goal to have net zero carbon emissions.
“As our older stock reaches the end of its safe working life, we must replace it.
“In most cases we’re able to insert the new pipe into the old one, a technique that reduces the time of each project and means we don’t have to dig as many excavations.
“It also means an end to what often becomes increasingly-frequent visits – with associated disruption – to repair faults on the older metallic mains, as they start to show signs of age.
“We know it’s not ideal, but my team is determined to move as quickly as they safely can and get the work done with as little disruption as possible.”
Metres of pipe to be upgraded, by local authority area
Barrow in Furness 8,328
Blackburn with Darwen 11,062
Bolton 24,016
Burnley 12,365
Bury 20,569
Chorley 10,171
Ellesmere Port and Neston 2,431
Fylde 14,347
Halton 14,579
High Peak 11,853
Hyndburn 3,623
Knowsley 10,591
Lancaster 4,856
Liverpool 20,315
Macclesfield 6,450
Manchester 40,052
Oldham 13,092
Pendle 4,153
Preston 12,889
Ribble Valley 1,714
Rochdale 19,044
Rossendale 2,005
Salford 11,508
Sefton 39,331
South Lakeland 5,063
South Ribble 12,045
St Helens 12,319
Stockport 16,593
Tameside 7,674
Trafford 23,656
Warrington 17,722
West Lancashire 1,337
Wigan 12,784
Wirral 47,658
Wyre 8,986
TOTAL 485,178
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