OREANDA-NEWS. An essential gas mains upgrade that will keep gas flowing to homes and businesses for decades to come is due to start on Tuesday (27 May) in Nottingham's St Ann's area.

Gas network operator National Grid will be renewing 850 metres of pipe in The Wells Road, St Bartholomews Road, and Thorneywood Mount. The 12-week project will see engineers replacing ageing metal mains with brand new, hardwearing plastic pipes, designed to last for at least 80 years.

The project will be carried out in phases, starting with Thorneywood Mount, followed by St Bartholomews Road and The Wells Road. It is due to be finished in the middle of August.

To protect engineers, motorists and other road-users, the work will be carried out using temporary traffic lights. Temporary traffic lights will be initially sited at the junction of Thorneywood Mount, St Bartholomew's Road and Gordon Road.

National Grid Authorising Engineer Paul Patrick said: “Our job is to connect people to the energy they need. This essential work will ensure local people continue to enjoy safe and reliable gas supplies until the end of the century.

“We appreciate that our work can cause disruption and we will make every effort to minimise the inconvenience and complete the project as quickly as we can.”

If anyone has any queries about the work and how it will affect them they can contact customer services on 0800 096 5678.

The gas main replacement in St Ann's is part of an ?800 million investment National Grid is making to renew gas mains in the East of England running up until 2021.