MP has a quiet word to end gas work early (From Worcester News)

MP has a quiet word to end gas work early

8:50am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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GAS works causing disruption on a busy road will finish one month early after a local MP had words with the boss of National Grid.

Work to replace the gas mains through Fernhill Heath is due to be completed today. It was originally scheduled to end on Friday, April 23.

The unexpected progress comes after Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff met the chief executive and corporate affairs director of National Grid at his offices in the House of Commons two days ago.

“They came to apologise unreservedly for the every aspect of their company’s handling of the gas main replacement works in Fernhill Heath, including their failure to communicate effectively with either the local community or with me,” said Mr Luff.

“They explained the extra resources that had now been put on the job and reassured me that special efforts would be made to accelerate payment of compensation to local businesses, including sending one of their senior representatives to talk personally to those businesses.”

Traders said theywere severely affected by the works, which started last December. The roadworks were originally meant to take 10 weeks, but were repeatedly delayed.

Alan Kasch, who runs convenience store Supershop in Droitwich Road, Fernhill Heath, claimed he had lost a third of his annual trade because of the “shambolic” project.

Mr Kasch said: “It’s gone from one extreme to the other. Never have I seen such incompetence at the start of a job, followed by such attention towards the end. When this all started there was no communication. Now we’re getting almost daily updates.”

While the road will soon be back to normal, questions over the way National Grid managed the works have been raised.

Both Mr Kasch and Mr Luff claim the gas company fed them “misleading” excuses.

Mr Luff said: "In the face of my persistent complaints and increasing fury from local people and road users, National Grid finally put four teams of men on the job, working for extended hours – something we had all been told was, for a variety of reasons, just not possible. We now know that we were right to believe those reasons were largely bogus."

A National Grid spokesman declined to comment on allegations of “bogus” reasons, but said: “For a variety of engineering reasons, along with poor weather conditions, this job has taken longer than originally planned. “We expected work to continue for another month. However, by using extra resources and working extended hours, we have been able to reduce that time and the job will now be completed on Saturday, March 20.

“We would like to apologise for the disruption this work has caused but can assure residents that it was needed to ensure a safe and reliable supply of gas to homes in the area.”