Heaters distributed as Falkirk gas supply fault continues

Thousands of homes in the Falkirk area have spent the night without heat in freezing temperatures after a major gas network failure.

Heaters and portable cookers have been distributed to vulnerable residents and 14 schools and nurseries are closed.

Gas infrastructure company SGN said it was likely to be “several more days” before all gas supplies were restored.

Engineers have been drafted in from around the country to fix the issue affecting 8,000 customers.

They are visiting every home to turn off gas supplies at the meter. By the end of Sunday night, they had been to 3,000 homes.

• Gas fault leaves 8,000 homes without heating

In its latest online update, SGN said: “We’ve restarted visiting homes this morning and we’ll be calling at as many more affected properties as possible to turn off the gas supply at the meter today.”

With overnight temperatures dipping below zero, people living in the area are being urged to check on vulnerable neighbours.

Meanwhile, residents have also been warned to be “mindful” of their electricity use, following a number of power outages in the area overnight.

On Twitter, police said: “Scottish Power is asking people in the Falkirk area is to be mindful of their electricity use over the coming days as there’s increased demand on the electricity network with people using heaters while they’re without gas.

A problem with a “governor” station which regulates gas pressure in the local network developed at about 04:30 Sunday.

Thousands of people woke up to discover they had no heating or hot water as their boilers shut down.

SGN said homes in Bainsford, Carron, Carronshore, Larbert, Langlees, New Carron Village, Skinflats and Stenhousemuir were affected.

‘Massive response’

Spokesman Denis Kerby said the fault was swiftly located but it would take an enormous effort to fix it and restore supplies safely.

He said: “We will have to get round and isolate the supplies to all these properties before we can make any attempt to get the gas supplies back on.

“We are currently repairing the problem – we will get that done in the next day. Then we have to get engineers to visit all the homes to isolate them.

“It’s a massive response required. We are looking to see if we can bring in engineers from other parts of the country and others parts of the UK as well.”

Falkirk council said 14 schools and nurseries would not open Monday, with a decision on whether they remain shut on Tuesday to be taken later.

The authority made the Camelon Community Centre available to SGN, which was handing out portable heating and cooking equipment to elderly, sick or disabled customers and those with young children.

A mobile catering unit was also distributing hot food.

Mr Kerby added: “Our priority is vulnerable customers. We are liaising with the local authority and our partners in the community to make sure we can visit all the people who may need that extra bit of help

“We would also appeal to people to be really good neighbours – and please check on any elderly neighbours or anyone in the vicinity who may need some extra help.”

Customers can request heating or cooking appliances by calling 0800 9121717.

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