More local business in Penrith have today made a visual plea to save the town and its shops, as road closures continue to impact footfall in the town centre since the gas mains replacement works got underway.
One local business in Middlegate has today said that “There was no one working here at 2:00 pm. Last week, I asked the staff how long it would take to finish Middlegate. They actually told me that it would be completed within the next two weeks. I want to know that there is no one working here at 2:00 pm.” “do they really want to turn this town into a ghost town?”
Another local takeaway business was hit with gas supply issues on Wednesday evening resulting in an impact on the menu it could offer customers.
Northern Gas Networks is replacing the ageing gas mains that runs through the town centre in three stages.
Stage 1 has seen Brunswick Road and part of Middlegate closed to traffic since the 3rd of January.
Stage 2 will see the rest of Middlegate and Devonshire street and parts of Market Square closed from 22nd of January until the 5th of February.
Stage 3 will see King street closed from the 5th of February until the 8th of March.
Northern Gas Networks have had to halt works due to the current cold weather, that has seen some of the coldest temperatures in over a decade hit the area and has caused delays to Stage 1 works because concrete used to infill the trench excavated to lay the new pipe will not set in subzero conditions.
The Gas mains that runs through the town centre has seen a number of leaks over the last four years with Middlegate closed in 2019 to allow for emergency repairs to fix a major leak.
The section along Middlegate has experienced further smaller leaks in the last three years leading to the current replacement work now under by Northern Gas Networks.
Daniel Hind, Operations Manager for Northern Gas Networks, said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during these essential works and the current delays. However, it is vital that we carry out this work in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Penrith.”
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