Gas emergency service, Cadent were called to a report of a gas escape at 14:32 this afternoon, and were on site shortly afterwards.
We have been working with the emergency services to manage the gas escape and to ensure the local community is safe.
A cordon of 100 metres has been put in place and a number of properties evacuated as a safety precaution with the help of the local authority.
We are pleased to confirm that all residents who were evacuated yesterday, will be able to return home from 9am this morning. We were able to successfully complete the repair and stopped the gas escaping.
We will have engineers on site this morning, should there be any issues when people return home.
A reminder: If you smell gas in your home, you should immediately call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999* and we will send an engineer to you.
We would like to thank the residents for their patience and understanding throughout this incident.
*All calls are recorded and may be monitored
We just need to clarify - if you are in the 100 meter cordon and have been evacuated, you will not be able to return to your home this evening and we hope to get you back in your homes tomorrow morning. We believe we have the contact details of all residents in the 100 meter cordon. If you do not think this is the case, please let someone know at the Ross Peers Centre in Soham.
If you were in the 200 metre cordon, you will have been contacted to let you know you are able to return this evening.
We will be working on the gas escape throughout the night. Next update will be in the morning.
"Gas emergency engineers from Cadent were called to a report of a gas escape earlier this afternoon in Fordham, Cambridgeshire. Our engineers arrived on site to assess the situation following damage to a large diameter gas pipe and are working with the other emergency services to ensure the safety of the local community.
Although the gas escape is in a field we have evacuate a number of properties as a safety precaution. We are working to reduce the amount of gas escaping and complete a repair as quickly and safely as possible to ensure residents can return to their homes as soon as possible this evening.
We appreciate that this type of gas escape is noisy and can sound dramatic. I would like to assure residents that all is under control and we hope to have the repair completed this evening, with no effect on gas supplies."
Those in the cordon area have been advised to evacuate as a safety precaution.
Please note: Our engineers are carrying out a very complex operation on a large and higher pressure gas pipe than normal, so the repair will take some time to complete. We are working as quickly and safely as possible.
Further updates will follow.
Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy. We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change. Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency. Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing.
Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.
Cadent manages the national gas emergency service free phone line on behalf of the gas industry - 0800 111 999*
Cadent Gas Ltd is owned by a consortium of global investors.
*All calls are recorded and may be monitored.
