ESSENTIAL gas works on the junction of Stratton Road and Kings Hill in Bude will be in place for a further week.

Wales & West Utilities, which is carrying out the £368,000 scheme, was due to remove traffic lights at the junction this Friday but due to engineering difficulties these will be in place until February 7.

The scheme, which began this earlier this month, is essential to keep the gas flowing to heat homes and power businesses so local people are kept safe and warm for generations to come. It is still on track to complete by April 3.

As part of the work, which is due to complete by April 3, it has been agreed with Cornwall Council that traffic management will be in place.

Wales & West Utilities Henry James is managing this upgrade work and said: “We are working as quickly as possible to remove the traffic lights, but engineering difficulties have meant that we are slightly delayed in taking them down. We have another team of engineers working to ensure that they are taken down as quickly as possible.

“Most of the gas network is underground and out of sight but it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Bude and the surrounding areas. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.

“We know that working on roads like this is not ideal, but it really is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future. We’ll be working as safely and as quickly as possible to make sure the work is completed in a timely fashion, while keeping inconvenience to a minimum for local people and road users.

“This work will not only keep the gas flowing safely and reliably today, it will also help make sure the gas network is fit for the future and can play its part in delivering reliable and affordable green energy.”

Wales & West Utilities’ customer service team is ready to take your call if you have any questions about the work. You can contact them on freephone 0800 912 2999 or [email protected].

Alternatively, you can contact Wales & West Utilities on Twitter @WWUtilities or Facebook.com/WWUtilities.

Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5-million people across the south west of England and Wales. If anyone smells gas, thinks they have a gas leak, or suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, they should call us on 0800 111 999 and their engineers will be there to help, day or night.

Their team is also working on a multi-million pound, 30-year gas pipe investment programme which began in 2002. Old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings are being upgraded to make sure homes and businesses continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply now and in the future.