Council statement re Dee Banks Gas Incident

On Friday evening (21 June) there was a Gas Main ignition on Dee Banks, Chester, where a gas pipe had ruptured and ignited. As part of the multi-agency response, Cheshire Fire and Rescue attended to oversee a controlled burn until the gas supply had been capped by Cadent Gas, and the Council’s Emergency Response process was activated.

Around 2,250 properties have been affected in the surrounding areas in East Chester, including three schools, one care home, one supermarket and several churches. Many remain without a gas and/or electricity supply.

Cheshire West and Chester Council continues to support colleagues at Cadent to enable them to carry out the necessary repairs as quickly as possible to the ruptured gas pipe.

Cadent have been making good progress visiting those affected. Council staff were at the site at the weekend, whilst others have been supporting the Council’s response to the incident, liaising with schools, residents and local businesses.

Dee Banks School has taken the decision to close for the rest of this week, and parents have been advised of this. In the meantime, the Council is arranging for the removal of a leaning lamp column in Dee Banks School car park. Part of the car park will be barriered off before the school reopens.

Huntington Community Primary School is open to all pupils and staff, and whilst the school still does not have a gas supply, they are able to use combi ovens to provide normal lunch arrangements.

Bishops’ Blue Coat Church of England High School and Boughton Heath Academy have not been impacted by the gas situation and are operating normally.

The Council’s schools team continues to provide support to all the local schools.

Cadent and Severn Trent are working together and have set up an incident unit to coordinate their operations.

A customer support centre is set up at St Luke’s Church in Chester Road, where Cadent are answering queries from customers impacted. There is also a dedicated Cadent phone line for customers, which is 0808 178 8085 (8am to 8pm). Food vans are serving hot meals from 12 noon to 6pm at St Luke’s, and hot shower facilities are offered by Chester Rugby Club.

Updates are being shared on Cadent's website as well as on social media channels (Cadent’s, as well as the Council’s and others).

Council staff will remain in the area whilst the disruption continues to offer reassurance and support to residents and businesses.

Public Health

The Council’s Public Health team would like to reassure those communities affected that there is no hygiene concern in relation to washing with cold water. So long as soap/handwash is used, and hands are washed thoroughly for 20 seconds or more, it is fine to use cold water.