We will shortly start critical work to reconnect the gas main running under North Street in Midhurst, to ensure local energy demand is met ahead of the autumn and winter.
This work follows the disconnection of the gas network in the town centre as a precaution after a fire broke out at the Angel Hotel in 2023. To maintain local supplies until now, our network asset team have re-directed the gas flow around the surrounding network, manipulating pressures to maintain constant supply.
This will no longer be a viable alternative once autumn arrives and the demand for gas increases. Therefore, this part of our network needs to be reconnected before September, which will ensure gas supplies are not lost to the wider area.
Following close consultation with the local authority and key stakeholders, our project will start on Monday 21 July and take approximately six weeks to complete.
Traffic management measures need to be installed for everyone’s safety while we complete our reconnection work. However, this won’t be implemented until Tuesday 22 July to enable the conclusion of the Gold Cup Polo weekend and the movement of several lorries from the site at nearby Cowdray Park.
Two-way temporary traffic lights will be installed on the A286 in North Street between its junctions with Lambert’s Lane and Cowdray Court. To help minimise disruption and ensure traffic flow is maintained through the town, we’ll be manning the lights from 7am and 7pm each day.
In addition, parking bays directly opposite the hotel and around our work area will need to be suspended during the project.
SGN Project Manager Charles Lacey said: “We need to urgently redirect some of our key gas network infrastructure before September to ensure Midhurst homes and businesses continue to receive a safe and reliable supply of gas. If we don’t reconnect this pipe, there’s a significant risk of losing gas supplies across Midhurst, including the college and the Riverbank GP surgery. This would be extremely disruptive with all properties off gas for some time.
“We haven’t carried out this work sooner because we’re governed by road space availability managed by the local authority. We needed this to be granted as we will be diverting the gas main into the carriageway in North Street. This work was initially delayed six weeks, but our expert team – who monitor the gas network, pressures and demands – have advised the risk is too great to delay the required work any further.”
Charles added: “Our engineers will be redirecting the gas main into the road to avoid the unsafe building structure. Excavating next to the hotel may further compromise the building and the work involved to redirect our pipe is significant. While we estimate this work may take six weeks, we’ll be working extended hours to try and complete it sooner than planned to reduce disruption to the community and road users.
“We recognise roadworks are frustrating, but this work is essential to ensuring a reliable supply of gas is maintained to Midhurst properties. We thank the community in advance for your understanding.”
More information and updates on progress of our work can be found here.