If you smell gas or are worried about gas safety, call 0800 111 999 at any time of the day or night. Find out what to do if you think you have a gas emergency.

Customer Care Team
Telephone 0800 040 7766

Email the Customer Care Team at customercare@northerngas.co.uk

Connections Team
Telephone 0800 040 7766

Email the Connections Team at gasconnections@northerngas.co.uk

Press Office
Telephone 0113 322 7950

Telephone Out of hours: 0113 322 7978

Stakeholder Relations Team

Email the stakeholder team at stakeholder@northerngas.co.uk

Smell Gas?
0800 111 999
Day or night
Non-emergency calls
Customer Care Team
0800 040 7766

Essential gas mains diversion project requires temporary closure of Dalston-Cummersdale footpath/cyclepath

Northern Gas Networks is carrying out critical gas diversion projects in the Carlisle and Cummersdale area, and Cumbria County Council are notifying local residents that part of a footpath/cycle path will be temporarily closed while the work takes place.

The first project involves diverting a 600m section of high pressure gas main intersecting the River Caldew, where the river has scoured away the riverbed sitting over the main, meaning the pipe is now exposed and potentially vulnerable to damage.

The second involves diverting a section of high pressure gas main that runs from Catton to Cummersdale, as part of Cumbria County Council’s Carlisle Southern Link Road project.

Both projects involve complex engineering and bringing in specialist heavy equipment and machinery to enable the works, which are essential for keeping gas supply to Cumbria safe and reliable.

In order to protect members of the public, a section of Footpath No.111006 between Dalston and Cummersdale will be closed from Monday 15 August for up to six months.

Before reaching this conclusion, Cumbria County Council considered every alternative solution, recognising the inconvenience for local residents, cyclists and walkers.

The county council apologises for the disruption and confirms that Northern Gas Networks will continue to review the access and inform the community of the progress of this project.

Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said:

“The safety of the public is our main priority here and our teams are working closely with Northern Gas Networks to keep the disruption to a minimum.

“Although the footpath is still accessible from Cummersdale to Carlisle, it will not be possible to walk or cycle from Dalston to Cummersdale, and the path will be closed from 15 August for up to six months. We have looked at many alternative routes, but unfortunately this is the only option that can ensure everyone’s safety.

“We appreciate that the closure will have an impact on local residents, especially the walking and cycling community, and we apologise for this.  Additionally, we would like to express our appreciation to the community for their patience and understanding as the Northern Gas Networks carry out these necessary works.”

Andy Mellars, Project Manager for Northern Gas Networks added:

“Diversion projects involve complex engineering and highly skilled teams, and we are bringing in specialist heavy equipment and welding machinery to enable the work.

“To protect our teams and members of the public while we’re carrying out this work, unfortunately we need to close a section of the footpath between Dalston and Cummersdale.

“We have kept schools and parish councils updated on the plans, and we’ve worked very closely with Cumbria County Council’s Countryside Access Team to explore every alternative solution before reaching this conclusion, as we fully appreciate the inconvenience for local residents, walkers and cyclists.

“We are extremely sorry for the disruption, and as the work progresses, we’ll continue to review the access and keep the community updated on timescales.

“We want to minimise impact on local people as much as we can so we’re carrying out both projects at the same time to reduce the likelihood of further disruption.”

Customers with questions about the works can contact NGN Customer Care officer Stevie Sharp-Brown at ssharp@northerngas.co.uk or on 07973 798220 between 9-5pm Monday to Friday.