It was quite ridiculous to expect people (especially the elderly) to travel from Shaw Cross to Hanging Heaton in the treacherous weather conditions that prevailed over the weekend.

I also want to express my sincere thanks to all the Shaw Cross volunteers that worked so hard on Saturday afternoon, especially the ladies who delivered leaflets and heaters in such terrible weather.

Their compassionate action may well have averted some really serious consequence for a number of the neighbourhoods more vulnerable persons.

Secondly I want to express my consternation at the performance of Northern Gas Networks (The poor guys who had to dig holes in the road both day and night in the freezing conditions are exonerated.)

Clearly there have been fundamental mistakes, misjudgements and miscalculations, at a senior level in dealing with this emergency and lessons need to be learned.

Frontline workers have continually done the best they could in the absence of authoritative control, instruction and reliable information.

Northern Gas Networks Senior Management seem to have been taken by complete surprise and somewhat overwhelmed by the pace and seriousness with which this incident has grown. Even to the layman it was obvious from the outset that hyperthermia was a very real danger and that lives were at risk.

It took Northern Gas Network from Wednesday evening, when people started to be cut off, until 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon to provide a meaningful quantity of electric fan heaters for distribution. Even the elderly and vulnerable had to wait that long. Considering all the circumstances is that good enough?...I don't think so!

Since Saturday morning I have spent many hours in the Shaw Cross incident centre so I speak from personal firsthand experience.

I would welcome an opportunity to share my observations with any senior manager of the company.

BOB BROWN
On behalf of Mount Tabor Shaw Cross Community Church
Valley Road
Thornhill
DEWSBURY

* A spokesman for Northern Gas Networks said: Gas suppliers provide a regular list of their vulnerable or at-risk customers, such as the elderly, infirm or those with chronic illness.

This list was merged with data held by Kirklees Social Services top ensure all vulnerable customers were treated as a priority.

Approximately 800 electric fan heaters and 150 hotplates have been issued to the allocated people. We have constant liaison with the Local Authority and the local electricity company to ensure we deliver an effective and coordinated response at all times.

I am disappointed that your reader thinks our response has been inadequate. However, the majority of people with whom we are liaising in the area accept that the emergency was imposed upon us and we are working extremely hard to rectify the problem.

It may appear to be a slow response, but we have to ensure all the water is removed from the gas network before gas supplies can be restored. This is a vital safety requirement which cannot be compromised.