Gas repair forces change to Renfrew regeneration programme

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The scheduling of work on the £4million programme to revamp Renfrew town centre has been changed because of the need to carry out urgent gas main replacement works.

Initial construction work was scheduled to start this month in Canal Street. However Scottish Gas Networks (SGN) have informed Renfrewshire Council that they urgently need to replace a gas main in the town’s Hairst Street and Canal Street. That work is due to be completed by the first week in November.

Council chiefs said they were “disappointed” at the late notification of the gas repair work but stressed that the overall regeneration programme for Renfrew town centre should still be completed by November 2007. The scheme will see changes to the town centre allowing pedestrians to get around town more easily, traffic to move more efficiently, and generally making the area a more pleasant place to live in, visit or shop.

Renfrewshire Council will shortly be issuing a leaflet to local residents and businesses to provide further information.

Scottish Gas Networks will be replacing 400 metres of their existing cast iron mains with polyethylene pipe which is more flexible and robust with a lifespan of around 80 years.

Councillor Jackie Green, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Planning and Development Policy Board, said: “I am extremely disappointed at the late notice from Scottish Gas Networks about this gas main. However, public safety considerations mean that we have no option but to amend our programme to allow SGN to carry out their works at the earliest opportunity”.

A spokesperson for Scotland Gas Networks said: “We would like to apologise for the late notice of works in Renfrew and the disruption to Renfrewshire Council’s programme for the regeneration of Renfrew town centre. Public safety, however is of paramount importance and this has been carefully considered in discussions with the Council. This essential work will undoubtedly cause some disruption but we will endeavour to keep this to a minimum.”

The gas repair works means that McKean and Co., the contractor for the £4m regeneration programme, will now begin work in High Street later this month. A one way traffic system will be introduced on Hairst Street (northbound) and High Street (eastbound) to allow those works to take place. Works will stop between mid-November and mid-January so that retailers can benefit from the Christmas trading period.

Press release: Friday 1 September 2006