IF YOU SMELL GAS contact the National Gas Emergency Service
0800 111 999. If you report a smell of gas in the roadway, they will need the number of the house nearest the leak.
0800 111 999. If you report a smell of gas in the roadway, they will need the number of the house nearest the leak.
August - September 2023 Laying of new gas main in Jack Straw's Lane
6 September 2023 Laying of new gas main in Jack Straw's Lane At last, when most of the work had been done, 'Road Ahead Closed - Access Only' signs were put in place. Photos here |
30 August 2023
Laying of new gas main in Jack Straw's Lane 'Road Closed - Access Only' signs had still not been put in place. Two men working for the contractors had narrowly missed being run down by motorists driving unacceptably fast for the situation. Photos (available here) include those of cyclists riding on the pavement to avoid danger and therefore causing a hazard to pedestrians. |
24 August 2023
Laying of new gas main In Jack Straw's Lane No 'Road Closed - Access Only' signs had been put in place at this time. Drivers approaching from the east were going into JSL North (a narrow, private, road) to find a turning space when they found further access blocked by construction vehicles. Photos available here |
In June 2023 a gas leak was a detected at the lower end of Jack Straw's Lane beside St Michael and All Angels Church and rectified - for photo of location see item Mid-November 2016 beldw.
SGN said that between 1 June and 5 October 2010 a new gas main was laid from Cowley House (KidsUnlimited Nursery, formerly a Youth Hostel) up to the beginning of Staunton Rd West, around the bend into Jack Straw's Lane South and along JSL South into Harberton Mead. Information about whether there are any current plans to continue the work down JSL in the future has not yet been provided by SGN. There were only two minor leaks in 2016 (but nine in 2015).
January 2016
In the vicinity of the Kidsunlimited Nursery. The engineers were initially called to inspect a spur from the main to a property but in the course of the work they found evidence of a leak in the gas main itself. The photos below were taken on 24 January 2016.
In the vicinity of the Kidsunlimited Nursery. The engineers were initially called to inspect a spur from the main to a property but in the course of the work they found evidence of a leak in the gas main itself. The photos below were taken on 24 January 2016.
2015 - 9th leak this year in the gas main in Jack Straw's Lane
21 Nov 2015: gas leak investigations continued. The engineers said they were finding it difficult to track down the leak. However, by early December repairs had been completed.
30 Oct 2015: Engineers began digging up the road. They said gas had been detected in the conduit for broadband/TV cables.
29 Oct 2015: An inspection team arrived at night in response to a report of a smell of gas, again in the area around the pillar box. Although some leaks have been located and fixed, some problems remain.
30 Oct 2015: Engineers began digging up the road. They said gas had been detected in the conduit for broadband/TV cables.
29 Oct 2015: An inspection team arrived at night in response to a report of a smell of gas, again in the area around the pillar box. Although some leaks have been located and fixed, some problems remain.
15 October 2015 Further excavation near the pillar box - 8th leak since May this year.
The contractors said that the decision on whether to completely replace a gas main is based not only on the frequency of leaks but on the distance of the pipe from houses. The danger to houses in JSL is low compared to houses with no front garden between them and the roadway.
The contractors said that the decision on whether to completely replace a gas main is based not only on the frequency of leaks but on the distance of the pipe from houses. The danger to houses in JSL is low compared to houses with no front garden between them and the roadway.
5 September 2015
More digging after a 'high reading' of gas was detected in the cable pit beside the pillar box by the leak detection team on 3 Sept, following notification of the smell of gas.
Left: 15 June 2015 - site of the 6th gas leak detected since May 2015
15 June 2015
Six gas leaks have now been found in the middle section of the Lane. An engineer who came to do preparatory work prior to the filling in of the hole excavated to mend the 6th leak could still smell gas there, so this repair will have to be looked at again. Since May 2015 four other leaks have been found and repaired in the vicinity of the junction with JSL North and another one near the entrance to Doris Field Close.
The engineer said that a new distribution pipe with a slightly smaller diameter than the existing pipe might have to be inserted into the existing one. The gas pressure would then be increased for this section to compensate for the reduction in size.
Six gas leaks have now been found in the middle section of the Lane. An engineer who came to do preparatory work prior to the filling in of the hole excavated to mend the 6th leak could still smell gas there, so this repair will have to be looked at again. Since May 2015 four other leaks have been found and repaired in the vicinity of the junction with JSL North and another one near the entrance to Doris Field Close.
The engineer said that a new distribution pipe with a slightly smaller diameter than the existing pipe might have to be inserted into the existing one. The gas pressure would then be increased for this section to compensate for the reduction in size.
7 June 2015
Further gas leak investigation
Another leak detected -
this time near the entrance to
Doris Field Close.
2 June 2015 Gas leak investigation
Drilling went on in the Lane for several days in the vicinity of the junction with JSL North to find the source of gas leaks. Three leaks have already been found and repaired. Holes had to be cut in plastic conduits for electricity supply lines to allow the gas that had got into them to escape. Road surface was subsequently repaired.
The engineers said the soil was very wet and this made detection more difficult.