I am very disappointed to have to report a further delay to the completion of the works to renew the gas main under the Warwick Road in Acocks Green Village. These were due to be finished today but are now not expected to be completed until some point between 7th and 14th August.

I am very concerned about the impact this will have on residents and the local businesses, so asked for a site visit to discuss the situation with the contractor. I was told that the delay was caused by the location of the water main which meant they had to fabricate a curved section of gas pipe to go round it. There have also been problems avoiding other utilities at the junction of Station Road and Warwick Road.

When the work was planned they referred to the original drawings but these were not complete or fully accurate, so they did not know they would have to work round other pipes, until they dug down and found them. They were then delayed by a lack of equipment caused by the Covid disruption. The new pipework is nearly all in place now, so the reinstatement work should start this week.

As if this wasn’t enough, the gas main under Gospel Lane, from its junction with the Warwick Road up to its junction with Bretton Road, will be renewed next, starting at the end of August. This section of Gospel Lane will have to close, while the work is done. It is scheduled to run from 31st August to 22nd September, but based on the experience with the Warwick Road, we will have to take the finish date with a pinch of salt for now.