Bradford mum's fears over ongoing gas smell (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford mum's fears over ongoing gas smell

7:00am Thursday 17th May 2012 in Local Video

A Bradford mum is in fear for her family’s health after their home has been plagued by a pungent smell of gas over the last three weeks.

Emma Heal has been in regular contact with Northern Gas Networks about the problem at her house in Moorwell Place, Eccleshill. On one occasion she called the organisation out at 3am because she had woken up feeling sick.

The company told her the gas was thought to be methane from a sewage system, which is the responsibility of Bradford-based Yorkshire Water. It has run tests and reassured Mrs Heal her gas supply is safe.

Mrs Heal said the levels of smell, which come up through her cellar, were “up and down”, which was causing her concern. She said: “At the moment I’ve got my two children in my bedroom because it has got the most circulation of air. The windows are open, it is freezing all night. I stay up as late as possible and then go and sleep in my youngest son’s bedroom after checking on them all.”

A spokesman for Northern Gas Networks said it did not take chances when it came to gas safety and was certain there was no leak on the pipe supplying the home.

“Tests carried out by our chemists show that there is naturally occurring sewer gas, or methane, in Mrs Heal’s cellar,” he said.

“We invited Yorkshire Water to join us when we carried out these tests as they cannot check for the presence of any gases themselves, and have shared the results. We think there may be a secondary issue relating to a disused gas pipe close to the property.

“A gas-like smell caused by a chemical residue could be finding its way into the cellar. The chemical is harmless on its own, but combined with the smell from the sewer gas is not nice for the customer.

“Unfortunately we cannot address the sewer gas, but we are looking at the possible issue with the disused main and are due to visit the customer next week.”

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said: “We will continue to liaise with all parties involved in an attempt to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”