Council update 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.

A large number of properties were left without gas in the surrounding areas in East Chester.

Cheshire West and Chester Council continues to work closely with Cadent, who are leading the response and reconnecting these properties to the gas supply.

Council teams including Community Safety, Communities, Emergency Planning, Business, Highways, StreetCare, Public Health, Education, Disabled Children's Service and Adult Social Care continue to support alongside Cadent and the voluntary sector.

Cadent continue to restore gas supply to the affected properties, and they have reported that work is progressing to plan. At this stage they anticipate returning the supply to most properties by some point over the weekend.

Cadent need to access homes to reconnect supply and will check everything gas-related inside the property as part of safety checks. Residents are advised not to attempt to restore their own supply. Cadent engineers must do this. It is important that residents are home or can leave a key with a neighbour if needed. When engineers arrive to reconnect the supply, they will always have identification with them. Cadent will continue to make return visits to any property they cannot access.

Dee Water Grange Care Home has now been reconnected to the gas supply.

Dee Banks School remains closed for the rest of this week and on Monday 1 July. The school have updated parents and will reassess the situation on Monday. Other schools in the area are unaffected.

Cadent are contacting those affected directly. They have also set up a customer support centre is 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).

For people who continue to have no gas, hot lunchtime and evening meals are available at St Luke’s Church, with last orders being taken at around 7pm.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.

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.