Harrogate gas leak: Town urged to reduce usage amid supply issues

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-58939225

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The Hydro leisure centre was on one of the businesses shut due to the leak

Residents have been asked not to turn on central heating or take showers after a major gas leak in their town.

Businesses in Harrogate were evacuated on Friday night after the discovery of the leak in Ripon Road.

It has since been stopped but engineers have warned that non-essential use could reduced the amount of gas available to all customers.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN) said repairs were likely for most of the day before supplies could be reintroduced.

About 3,000 people are affected by the work to fix the leak.

Homeowners in the HG1, HG2, HG3 and HG4 postcodes have been asked to avoid using their central heating and taking showers if they have a combi boiler until further notice.

Stuart Armin, of NGN, said: "Our top priority is to keep people safe and restore normal service as quickly as we can."

"It is a complex operation because this is a large pipe which needs some specialist deep excavations to enable the repair work.

"Repairs will probably take most of today, after which we will need to steadily re-introduce gas into the local supply system in a controlled manner before people's supplies can be fully restored."

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A centre has been set up at the Jennyfield Styan Community Centre in Grantley Drive, for information and advice.

Food vouchers are available for those that require a hot meal as well as a supply of electric heaters and hotplates.

However, NGN suggested minimising the use of appliances and to switch off or unplug any electrical equipment not being used.

It also asked residents to heat only essential rooms, in order to avoid increasing demand on the electricity network.

Some businesses along Ripon Road including the Co-Op petrol station, Shell garage and the Hydro leisure centre were evacuated, said NGN.

A temporary road closure is also in place in Ripon Road and motorists are advised to find alternative routes.

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