Vital Gas Mains works in Military Road and Sandgate High Street

Cllrs Season Prater and Ann Rimmer today attended a briefing on gas mains works for the Sandgate area. Paul Sargeant of Kent Highways Services and Adrian Hart of Southern Gas Networks (SGN) met with Councillors to discuss their plans and answer any questions.

The works are part of a 30 year programme across their network to replace all the metallic pipes with new polyethylene (PE) pipes. These PE pipes are more flexible and robust and if left undisturbed will last for decades. Some areas of the older metallic pipes are beginning to corrode and if left could cause leaks and potentially worse situations.

Modern methods of pipe laying means they can insert the new pipes inside the old ones which in some areas means they do not need to dig up entire stretches of the road. However, where sections are dug up they will be made good as they leave.

The planned works will commence in early September (likely 1st September) and will begin on Military Road at the 90 degree bend by the recreation ground. They will work in 50m sections and use 2-way traffic light systems where necessary to ensure as little disruption to traffic as possible. The completion of this phase will be when they reach Sandgate High Street and is likely to take around 16 weeks.

Once the first phase is complete the second phase will start on Sandgate High Street close to St Pauls Church and will follow the same procedure until completion at the end of the Coastguards Cottages. This phase may take slightly longer than 16 weeks due to the high number of individual flats and business premises which need to be connected to the new pipework.

SGN have contracted the work to Morrisons. The teams will be contacting individual householders and businesses when supplies need to be disconnected which should only be for a period of up to one day as the new connections are made.

A plan of the proposed works is available to view in Sandgate Library. Both Kent Highways and SGN want to keep the disruption to a minimum and purposely chose to start the works after the summer. However, if you do experience any problems with the works please contact one of your councillors or drop into the Library.