Another week of repairs until Gomersal water pipe is fully fixed

Yorkshire Water and Northern Gas Networks (NGN) have said they are working on repairs to the village’s main junction as quickly as possible, but the roads are likely to remain closed until Tuesday, August 16.

The junction is closed due to damage to both gas and water pipes which has required excavating 1,000 square metres of the junction along Oxford Road, Spen Lane and Church Lane.

A meeting was held last Thursday between Kirklees Council, Yorkshire Water and Northern Gas Networks to discuss the ongoing management of the road closures and traffic management concerns.

As a result of the meeting, more signs have been put in place to avoid confusion with motorists and they have been sandbagged to try stop them blowing over.

To support local businesses affected by the road works, ‘open as usual’ signs have also been installed and owners have been given progress updates by Yorkshire Water, NGN and the council.

Paul Sadler, Customer Operations Area Manager at Northern Gas Networks, said: “We’ve been working closely with both Kirklees Highways and Yorkshire Water to minimise the inconvenience caused to members of the public while we carry out this essential work.

“Following damage to our gas pipe we decided to bring forward planned work to replace the gas main to minimise any inconvenience caused by returning to the location to carry out this work in the future.

“We’re expecting our work to be complete by August 10, just ahead of the junction reopening early next week.”

Alistair Gavins, Operational Contract Manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “This is an extensive repair job involving numerous parties and we’d like to apologise to commuters and businesses affected by it.

“It is essential repair work that is due to be fully completed no earlier than Tuesday, August 16.

“We will continue to liaise with both NGN and Kirklees Highways on a daily basis to ensure any works that can be brought forward will be to try and reduce the length of disruption time.”

Councillor Lisa Holmes, Conservative for Liversedge and Gomersal, said it is imperative the works are completed on schedule.

She said: “The sheer scale of this incident has caused an unprecedented level of disruption to our local road network.

“Residents and commuters have had an incredibly difficult time, and many of our local businesses have suffered a dramatic loss of trade.

“We really do need Hill Top to be reopened as quickly as possible.

“Northern Gas Networks and Yorkshire Water must do everything possible to ensure that all works are actually completed by the 16th of August.”

* Have you been affected by the works? Email us at [email protected].