Investigation lodged into major gas leak (From Enfield Independent)

Investigation lodged into major Enfield Town gas leak

5:30pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Hermione Wright

An investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances which led to a major gas leak in Enfield Town last night.

National Grid Gas is working with Enfield Borough Council to find out how council workers resurfacing St Andrew’s Road hit a gas main lying approximately two inches below the road’s surface.

Approximately 180 people were evacuated from their homes from 12.30am to find shelter in Enfield Civic Centre until they were given the green light to return at approximately 6am.

According to the council, the gas main was “unexpectedly shallow” and should have been at least 600mm below the road’s surface.

A National Grid Gas spokesman said: “An investigation is being carried out into this incident. We will work closely with the London borough of Enfield to determine the circumstances that led to this incident.

“We can’t comment further at this stage or speculate.

“The safety of our networks is of utmost importance to us and after incidents such as this we always look at what we can do to prevent them happening again.”

National Grid Gas said repairs to the gas main are expected to be complete within two days.

The council said it is working with National Grid Gas to understand why the main had been installed in such a way and to agree that any permanent repair will be rerouted at a lower depth.