We are upgrading the local gas network in the North West, replacing ageing metallic pipes to new plastic ones. These will last for a long, long time, and will see us retire older pipes that have come to the natural end of their operating life. This work is part of a big investment programme, across the UK, to build infrastructure that will keep everyone warm in their homes, but with less impact on the environment. Details of the programme in North West England can be found at https://cadentgas.com/nw3
The current pipes in the Bidston Green area were installed approximately 50 years ago and need to be replaced so that they can continue to be used safely. More than 84% of Wirral’s homes rely on gas central heating to provide warmth and hot water, and these works are critical to ensure that this continues to happen safely.
We are steadily making progress through each stage - some are easier than others.
We hope that we will soon see an end to the poor weather which will help our team enormously in making sure work is completed in a timely and safe manner.
Thank you to everyone who took part in our Easter Egg hunt. It was truly incredible to see so many happy faces out searching for those Golden Tickets.
We also had a visit from the local MP, Mick Whitely. It was wonderful to have some of his time to show the ongoing investment in his constituency.
Feedback was positive all around and that is hugely down to how the community has embraced Cadent and our third party contractors. So from all at Cadent, thank you!
This week, progress has been slower due to the pipe being deeper than we originally anticipated. Therefore, excavations have been larger than we have originally planned.
We have made sure to put out an extended footpath and wherever possible used foot ramps and smaller barriers to keep access available.
Thank you for your continued patience and support.
This week we have renewed the gas main up to and including number 16 Fender Way. Thank you to everyone who has been so understanding of our team and the whole process.
Week commencing Monday 18th March will see the work commence up to property 48. We will endeavour to keep access to properties at all times with clear footways and ample parking.
However, if you do have any concerns, please speak to one of the team on site or in the Customer Hub.
This week we completed the first section of Fender Way, houses 1-8. The engineering work on the gas mains and services will conclude on Monday 11th March. We will then proceeding further up the road.
A note to all residents, the gas main is situated in the footpath on this section. We will make sure all excavations are fully barriered and also use matting to allow people to navigate safely around our works back on to the path.
If you have any questions, please pop into our Customer Communications Hub to discuss with one of the team.
Work is well underway now with Bidston Green Court pipe upgrade completed this week. The holes will be filled in over the coming days.
Thank you all so much for your patience, particularly during this cold poor weather.
Justin and the team will now move onto Fender Way from Monday 4th March and have their fingers crossed for some drier, warmer days.
As always, pop into the hub to speak to the team if you have any concerns or questions.
We are here to help!
We are having a community event on Wednesday 21st February, from 1pm to 5pm - and you're all invited!
This will be at our new Customer Communication Hub situated near the St Oswald Court Extra Care Nursing Home on Fender Way.
You'll be able to meet the team and learn about the work. We'll also help people sign up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
We'll be providing some energy cost saving tips too, as well as free drinks, cake and a tombola.
Bring the kids - we'll have some activity sheets for them to complete, with the chance to win a £50 Smyths toy shop voucher.
Just so you know: the Customer Communication Hub will be open Monday to Friday for residents to visit our Customer Liaison Officers where more detailed live project updates will be available over a cup of tea and a cake by local business Thank Cake it’s Friday!.
Monday to Friday 0900 – 1630.
Our Customer Liaison Officers will also be out in the community on a daily basis to help all residents, businesses and other members of the public with queries or concerns.
For the duration of this project, we will have a Customer Communication Hub situated near the St Oswald Court Extra Care Nursing Home on Fender Way.
The Customer Communication Hub will be open Monday to Friday for residents to visit our Customer Liaison Officers where more detailed live project updates will be available over a cup of tea and a cake by local business 'Thank Cake it’s Friday!'
Our Customer Liaison Officers will also be out in the community on a daily basis to help all residents, businesses and other members of the public with queries or concerns.
Cadent operates the local gas network in North West England. This means our teams maintain, repair and upgrade the 21,000 miles of pipes under our feet, as well as hundreds of above-ground stations. We also provide the region’s 24/7, year-round gas emergency service, ready to respond quickly if you or anyone reports a smell of gas, notices damage to gas pipes or suspects the presence of carbon monoxide.
The pipes that carry gas to homes and other buildings in Bidston are safe but nearing the natural end of their operational lives. In this area of Bidston, some of the pipes dates to the early 1970s. It’s time to modernise them, replacing the old metallic pipes with plastic ones, which will last for a long, long time. We’re doing this across the North West – see www.cadentgas.com/nw3 for more on that.
If you smell gas, act immediately. Call 0800 111 999* at any time of day or night.
There is more advice here https://cadentgas.com/smell-gas
We always aim to keep businesses, customers and motorists updated on any major planned work in their area. We’ll keep this webpage updated with the latest information. We have a customer team who will spend a lot of time in Bidston, ready to help, and answer any questions you have. They will be making visits to customers throughout the project. We’re also operating an update service via WhatsApp. To learn more, see the details in the ‘contact us’ tab on this page.
For the duration of this project, we will have a Customer Communication Hub situated near the St Oswald Court Extra Care Nursing Home on Fender Way.
The Customer Communication Hub will be open Monday to Friday for residents to visit our Customer Liaison Officers where more detailed live project updates will be available over a cup of tea and a cake by local business 'Thank Cake it’s Friday!'
Our Customer Liaison Officers will also be out in the community on a daily basis to help all residents, businesses and other members of the public with queries or concerns.
Where possible, we’re planning to upgrade most of the pipes by inserting the new pipe into the old one. This reduces the amount of disruption and the number of excavations we need to dig. We will need to disrupt your gas supply for a short period (to be back on the same day it goes off), while we connect your home to the new gas pipe. When it’s time for us to work near you home, we’ll come and explain everything. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to know more now.
Our work to replace ageing gas mains is a major engineering project and we are working hard to complete it as soon as we can. Where possible we try to reduce the duration of our works and their impact. The project has been carefully planned with the local authority, so it is carried out as efficiently as possible. We use innovative methods and technology to minimise disruption and reduce the time taken to do this work.
The amount of road space taken up will vary throughout the project and will be minimised at all times. The scale and extent of this project and the size of the pipes mean we need to use heavy machinery and equipment. To allow us room to manoeuvre this equipment, and to maintain site safety, we need this amount of space. We also have to take account of the position of the existing gas mains.
Although it may appear that no one is working on site, it doesn’t mean that work has been completed. We need to be able to work at different locations to insert pipes, make connections and to carry out testing. It is only once we are satisfied that the new pipe is safely supplying gas to customers that we can fill in the excavation and clear up the site.
Once the work is complete, we will reinstate all excavations and trenches to nationally approved highways standards. We match the colour and texture to the existing surfaces, wherever we can. We’ve got specialist teams ready to do all that. When it’s time for us to work at your property, we’ll come to talk to you about this – but don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions for us now.
When it’s time to work on your property, we will let you know. We will need to access to your home, to make sure everything is working as it should be, but we’ll contact you to make arrangements – working to a time that’s suitable for you.
All work is being carried out on our behalf by Network Plus and their local delivery partner BCH Civils Limited. We’ve included some photos of key team members in the ‘meet the team’ section of this page. However, there will be other operatives too from time to time – so, please always ask for and check the ID of anyone claiming to work on our behalf. They won’t be offended and we encourage you to do that.
We know there are many customers in this area who are on the Priority Services Register. We have a record of who is on this important register and will be making arrangements to keep in touch with you all, and help meet your particular needs.
Haven’t heard of the Priority Services Register? Have a look at this page for more information on that
https://cadentgas.com/help-and-advice/priority-services-register
For the duration of this project, we will have a Customer Communication Hub situated near the St Oswald Court Extra Care Nursing Home on Fender Way.
The Customer Communication Hub will be open Monday to Friday for residents to visit our Customer Liaison Officers where more detailed live project updates will be available over a cup of tea and a cake by local business 'Thank Cake it’s Friday!'
Our Customer Liaison Officers will also be out in the community on a daily basis to help all residents, businesses and other members of the public with queries or concerns.