PTN 15,March 2024

Final Weekend of Town Centre Gas Works Road Closures

As the weekend approaches businesses in Penrith are looking ahead to next weekend when the roads through Penrith will be reopened as Gas works are completed over the next week.

Norther Gas Networks gas mains replacement has seen roads through the town centre closed in stages since the 3rd of January.

Delays to completion of earlier stages and weather issues have the orginal planned completion date of the 8th of March, slip with works now due to be completed over the next week with road closure permits issued by Westmorland and Furness Council to Northern Gas Networks due to expire on Friday the 22nd March at 23:59.

Work to replace the old metal gas pipes with new plastic pipes is now complete with only the road surface reinstatement to be complete in Market Place and sections in Kingstreet.

Some local traders while recognising the need to complete the works to replace the gas mains have blamed the gas mains replacement works and road closures on a steep decline in footfall in the town since January, impacting trade in the town with some businesses having opted to close up shop while the works were carried out near their premises.

Dan Hind, Operations Manager for Northern Gas Networks said: “Work to upgrade ageing metal gas mains in Penrith began in January. The project was planned to take place in three phases to minimise the disruption caused.”

“Phase 1 and 2 are now compete and our engineers are working to complete the final phase of the work. Unfortunately the cold weather that we’ve experienced over the past couple of months has meant that we have had to allow more drying time for road surfaces during the earlier stages of the project, which has had a knock on impact on the overall duration of the work.”

“We have been working closely with customers and stakeholders in the local area to keep them informed about the work and we’d like to reassure people that we’re doing everything we can to complete the work as quickly as possible.”