National Grid plc : Improvements in the pipeline in Chasetown

A major programme of co-ordinated road works in Chasetown is due to start at the end of the month.  On Monday, 30 January engineers from National Grid and Severn Trent will start improvement work on the gas and water mains running along High Street. 

National Grid will be replacing the old metal gas main between Milestone Way Roundabout and the junction of Hill Street.  This main has reached the end of its working life and needs to be replaced so that residents in the area can continue to receive a safe and reliable supply of gas. 

Severn Trent Water will be installing over 400 metres of new sewer pipes to alleviate flooding problems in the area.

The project is expected to take around six months to complete and will be carried out in two phases.

Phase one will need High Street to be closed to traffic between Milestone Way Roundabout and the junction of Chase Vale for six weeks.  This will allow National Grid to start laying the new pipe and replacing the service pipes to individual properties while Severn Trent carries out work to the sewerage pipes. 

Phase two will start in mid March when National Grid will continue to replace the gas main and services along High Street up to the junction of Hill Street.  The work is expected to be completed by the end of July.  During this time High Street will be open to one-way traffic only travelling from Milestone Way to Queen Street.

National Grid project manager Steve Mullock said:  "This project is a major investment in the safety and reliability of Chasetown's gas supply and will be a short term inconvenience for a long term benefit.  The new plastic pipe we are laying will last for up to 80 year and needs little or no maintenance.  We appreciate that people don't like roadworks and there is never a good time to close such a busy road but we have worked very closely with Severn Trent co ordinate our projects which will help to keep disruption to minimum."

Severn Trent Water programme manager John Dunlop added:  "We are investing £1 million in the new sewers in Chasetown to solve the flooding issues that have affected the area for a long time.  We're very glad to be able to work with both National Grid and Staffordshire County Council to co-ordinate our projects and make sure we have as little negative impact on our customers as possible."

End

Contact for media information only:

Jane Taylor
National Grid Media Relations

07785 220647
[e-mail]

Out of hours duty press officer:
01926 653000

National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks.  The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century.  National Grid holds a vital position at the centre of the energy system and we 'join everything up'. 

In Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.  In the North Eastern US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles.

National Grid in the UK:

• We own the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales, operating it across Great Britain
• We own and operates the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain
• Our gas distribution business delivers gas to 11 million homes and businesses
• We also own a number of related businesses including LNG importation, land remediation and metering
• National Grid manages the National Gas Emergency Service free phone line on behalf of the industry - 0800 111 999 (all calls are recorded and may be monitored).