Northern Gas Networks
today held two community drop-in sessions at the George Hotel members of the
community and local businesses attended the drop in sessions to get further
details on the plans to replace the gas main through Penrith and the months of
road closure plans.
In early 2024, Penrith
residents and businesses will face a significant disruption through the town
centre and local roads around the town as Northern Gas Networks embarks on a
comprehensive project to upgrade the town's gas infrastructure. The extensive
works will involve replacing ageing metal gas mains pipes with new plastic
pipes, a move aimed at enhancing the reliability and safety of the gas supply.
The
road closures will occur in stages, with the initial closures beginning on
January 3rd, 2024 lasting through until early March. Westmorland and Furness
Council have granted permits to enable the works and the associated road
closures and diversions, which will affect various parts of the town centre and
other local roads.
The
months of road closures will pose challenges for the residents and businesses
in Penrith the plans resulted in some heated exchanges between members of the
public and the representatives of Norther Gas Network today.
Norther Gas Networks spokesperson
today said they could only speak about the actual works and that all diversion
routs are the responsibility of Westmorland and Furness Council who have
approved the road closures from January 3rd until early March.
As part of the works the
bottom of Brunswick Road and Corney Square will be full closed to all traffic
resulting in substantial diversions around the town with Beacon edge set to
carry most of the daily town traffic as the main diversion rout during the
works.
Resident from the west of Penrith from Castletown will have to travel along the A66 to access the other part of Penrith by road.
Parking spaces will be will be removed along Portland Place to enable traffic to move freely along the road during the diversions.
We have created a full interactive map of the closures and diversion routes with the latest updated information provided by Norther Gas Networks.
The closure permits issued by the council are as follows:
Middlegate: January 3rd, 2024, 8:00 AM, to January 26th, 2024, 11:59 PM.
Corney Square: January 3rd, 2024, 8:00 AM, to January 26th, 2024, 11:59 PM.
Bottom of Brunswick Road: January 3rd, 2024, 8:00 AM, to January 26th, 2024, 11:59 PM.
Middlegate, Devonshire Street: January 22nd, 2024, 8:00 AM, to February 5th, 2024, 11:59 PM.
Market Square, King Street: February 5th, 2024, 8:00 AM, to March 8th, 2024, 11:59 PM.
Works will be carried out with staged closures with the works moving south from Corney Square to King Street.
You can also find the map at https://goto.penrith.town/road-closure-map
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
