BULLETIN AMPTHILL•FLITWICK•WESTONING•HARLINGTON•TODDINGTON
Ampthill lights switch on – see page 6
GAS SUPPLY BACK ON IN AMPTHILL MORE than 6,000 homes in the Ampthill area have finally had their gas reconnected after a week without any supply. The good news is the residents will receive compensation. On Tuesday (November 15) a building contractor’s piledriver hit a gas main.
Bedfordshire Fire Brigade initially attended but as there was no immediate danger the matter was passed onto the National Grid, who put a Zellweger gas detector in use.
The incident resulted in a loss of gas supply to 6,000 homes and businesses in Ampthill, Maulden, and Clophilll. Engineers worked to restore the gas supply but first needed to visit every affected property and switch the gas supply off at the meter. Engineers first turned off supplies off in Clophill and Maulden and then set to work in Ampthill on Wednesday afternoon. They asked if homeowners could ensure someone could be at home to let them in. Once the repair was made and gas back in the mains, a second visit was made to turn on the supply to each property and make sure it was flowing safely. National Grid liaised with the local authority to ensure elderly and other vulnerable residents are being identified and cared for. An incident room was set up
TWO VISITS
in Maulden Village Hall where people were able find out more information. Electricity distribution company UKPN also appealed to people to avoid using their own electric heaters continuously to prevent the local electricity network from overloading. A spokesman said: “We’d like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding throughout this incident. We’re also very grateful to the council, other agencies, volunteers and all those who have worked with us during the operation to restore gas supplies. “A very small number remain to be reconnected where the company haven’t been able to get access to turn supplies back on. “Engineers have left contact cards at these properties and these residents can call us on 0845 835 1111 to arrange for their gas supply to be turned back on.”
Those households who are to receive compensation are being asked to donate part of it to help the homeless this Christmas go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/NoGas
National Grid sent representatives to Ampthill Christmas Lights switch-on to answer residents’ questions – good move.
DECEMBER 2016
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PETER GETS A TRIM
See page 3