Almost 15,000 metres of gas piping to be replaced in Warrington …

Cadent to replace 15k of gas piping in Warrington in 2023-24

ALMOST 15,000 metres of gas piping is set to be replaced in Warrington over a 12-month period. Details of the 2023-24 programme to upgrade the north west's oldest gas mains - some of which were installed over 100 years ago - have now been revealed. Cadent, which manages the region's gas network, will modernise around 418km of its north west pipeline over the next 12 months - including 14,822 in Warrington.

The GBP80million investment, upgrading vital pipes to plastic to ensure their long-term safety, will be delivered by 600 skilled gas engineers. As part of its commitment to keeping customers safe and warm, every year Cadent replaces around 1.5 per cent of its 34,000km north west underground distribution system. Mark Syers, who leads the team delivering Cadent's upgrade work, said: "More than 80 per cent of homes in the north west rely on gas for central heating.

"It is our job to make sure they get it safely and reliably, every minute of every day of the year. "As our older stock reaches the end of its safe working life, we must replace it. "We are also excited by the arrival soon of hydrogen to our networks, which is going to be essential to the north west achieving its targets to reduce carbon emissions.

"In most cases we are able to insert the new pipe into the old one, a technique that reduces the time of each project and means we do not have to dig as much. "It also means an end to what often becomes increasingly-frequent visits - with associated disruption - to repair faults on the older metallic mains, as they start to show signs of age. "We know it is not ideal, but my team is determined to move as quickly as they safely can and get the work done with as little disruption as possible."

Cadent works with local highways authorities to agree the best and least disruptive timings to carry out these essential upgrades.

Once start dates have been confirmed, letters are sent to properties impacted ahead of the work starting.