Residents in fear over gas leak
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| Resident Richard Jones |
Residents of a row of terraced houses fear they could be blown sky high because of a gas leak outside their homes.
Despite persistent reports of the problem for the last three years, residents are still waiting for it to be solved by the gas supply company.
The problem is centred in the middle of St Margaret's Terrace in Ilkley where numerous holes have been dug by gas contractors in an unsuccessful attempt to stem the leak.
Contractors for United Utilities, which runs the gas pipe network, have now started further work to try to plug the leak. The company has stressed that it does not cause a risk to life or property.
But one resident, Peter Jamieson, said: "We are very concerned about it. It has gone on for three years and the road has been dug up at least seven times.
"We are assured there is no problem between the house and the road and that it has vapourised by the time it comes out so there is no fear of fire or explosion from cigarettes or cars.
"Over the past six months we have had passers-by calling at the door about it."
Another resident, vet Richard Jones, who lives with his partner and their five children, have also had frequent callers telling them about the strong gas smell outside their home.
Mr Jones said he feared a similar accident to the one which killed a nine-year-old girl in Plymouth in January. Gas from a fractured main leaked into a nearby house and blew it up when it was ignited by a naked flame. The girl had been walking by at the time of the explosion.
The couple noticed the problem soon after moving into the house six months ago.
Mr Jones said despite the number of contractors who had visited the site or dug up the road none had ever solved the problem or found where the gas was leaking from.
Mr Jones said: "They say the piping is very old and that it needs replacing. One of the workers said they had never dug up where the leak was.
"It sounds very similar to that girl. It seeped into the property and the property exploded. It looks like the same situation to me.
"We are tired of people knocking on the door to say they can smell gas."
Mr Jamieson said that the problem may have started when water company contractors dug up the road to lay new pipes under it.
He said he had been told that there was a problem regulating gas up a steep hill, resulting in a build-up of pressure at the bottom end.
A United Utilities spokesman said: "We are dealing with a small gas leak in the roadway at St Margaret's Terrace.
"It is not threatening to people or property and there is no need for people to be concerned for their homes or themselves. We have been monitoring it daily and it was assessed as safe to do so.
"Our engineers would never leave a situation unsafe. We would rather be called out several times than not at all."
12:35pm Friday 28th March 2008
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