Engineers rush to fix gas outage for 4,600 south Devon properties | UK News

Engineers have been working overnight to repair damage to a mains pipe that has left thousands of homes and other buildings without gas.

The outage, which affects about 4,600 properties in the Kingsbridge, Malborough and Salcombe areas of south Devon, started on Saturday amid freezing temperatures.

Wales & West Utilities said on Sunday that the mains pipe had now been fixed but that, as part of the ongoing repairs, engineers had to make two visits to every property with a gas supply – first to switch it off, then to reconnect it.

The company said some customers may see their supply resumed on Sunday, while others are likely to have it returned on Monday or Tuesday.

Members of the public have been urged to “make every effort to be in” on Sunday as around 100 engineers make their way around homes.

Gwyn Thomas, from Wales & West Utilities, told Radio Devon: “I am pleased to say our teams worked late into last night and managed to repair the main – so that first part of us getting the supply back has been completed.

“I’d like to assure people we have more than 100 engineers working in the area as we do need to visit every property that has a gas supply.

“Once that is completed, we will then be in a position to begin restoring supply to customers.”

Mr Thomas added: “We have got about 4,600 properties that were impacted by the loss of gas so it is quite a challenge…

“The aim for today is that we can ensure that supplies are isolated.

“We will probably be looking at restoring some supplies today for some customers but it is likely that other customers will be looking at a return to supply on Monday and some possibly into Tuesday.”

The company previously said the outage was caused by a third party working on land at Belle Hill near Kingsbridge.

A yellow ice and snow warning for the South West is in place until 11:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Devon County Council said five schools due to reopen after the Christmas break on Monday or Tuesday may be affected by the outage.

They are Kingsbridge Primary School; Kingsbridge Community College; West Alvington Primary School; Malborough Primary School; and Salcombe Primary School.

Closures would be notified via the county council’s schools website, said the authority.

Wayne Grills, owner of Pizza Planet in Kingsbridge, has shut his restaurant due to its reliance on gas.

“We had to close, we cook on gas like many restaurants and takeaways,” he said.

“For us that was it, the minute we knew we didn’t have gas that was it, we were shut.

“Usually the last weekend before people go back to school and work is pretty busy, Saturday was looking to be just as busy, but the plug was pulled.

“I did know fairly early on what the situation would have to be.

“Knowing the thousands of properties that will have to be visited by engineers, it is going to be a big task.”