Wroughton gas pipe upgrade progressing

Wales & West Utilities says it is progressing with its work to upgrade the gas pipes in the Swindon Road area of Wroughton.

The work is being carried out collaboratively at the request of Swindon Borough Council, which is coordinating efforts with utilities to minimise disruption to the local community.

The firm says work to upgrade the gas pipes is vital in ensuring gas continues to flow safely and reliably to homes and businesses across the area - helping to keep people warm for decades to come. All going to plan, the project will be complete by the middle of October.

Wales & West Utilities Mick Gallavin is managing the work. He said: “We are committed to keep the local community updated of our progress as we work to upgrade our gas network to ensure it remains safe, reliable and fit for the future for the customers we serve across the area.

“We understand our work can cause disruption, but it is essential to maintain a resilient gas network that households and business can rely on every day.

“While much of the gas network is out of sight, it plays a vital role in daily life – from heating homes to cooking meals and we know how important it is that gas is there when people need it.

“Once we’ve completed this intensive phase of work, we’ll leave behind an upgraded network that meets today’s energy needs, and is ready to transport greener gases in the future. By completing this work now, barring any emergency repairs, we can avoid returning to the area and causing further disruption to the local community for decades.”

In the next part of the project it has been agreed that work will be ongoing on Marlborough Road from 3 August. This will involve:

- A road closure on Marlborough Road between 3 - 30 August. Access will be maintained for residents throughout
- Between 3– 9 August access for residents will be from the Chiseldon end, whilst between 10 – 30 August, access will be from the Swindon end of the road
- Two and three-way traffic lights on Moormead Road, between the junctions of Devizes Road to just past Wainwright Mews (31 August - 18 September)
- Two and three-way traffic lights on Swindon Road, between the junctions of Listers Road and Perrys Lane (21 September – 9 October)

The project is part of Wales & West Utilities' work to invest over £8.9 million over the next 18 months to upgrade gas pipes across Swindon and the wider Wiltshire area. 

The intensive programme of wider mains replacement works will see the company upgrading the critical energy infrastructure in the area to benefit local customers.

For more information about the work, visit www.wwutilities.co.uk/gas-pipe-upgrade-projects/. 

As projects begin, customers can also find out what to expect from the work at www.wwutilities.co.uk/services/gas-pipe-upgrades/.

Wales & West Utilities is the gas emergency and pipeline service, delivering energy to over 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England. We don’t sell gas; we transport it through an extensive underground network of more than 35,000 kilometres of pipes.

A company spokesperson said: "If you smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide, call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999 immediately. Trained engineers are available 24/7 to respond and keep you safe."