Homes being reconnected to gas supply in Kelso
Tuesday, December 2 2008
Approximately 500 homes in the Kelso area are expected to have their gas supply reconnected by the end of today (Tuesday).
However, this will still mean more than 2000 properties will spend another night without gas. A decision has been taken this afternoon to keep the drop-in centre at Kelso High School dining hall open throughout the night for residents looking for a warm place and some hot drinks and soup. The centre will then remain open throughout Wednesday. Council staff and volunteers from the WRVS will be staffing the centre.
Scotland Gas Networks has confirmed that areas including Ferniehill Court, Broomlands, Ednam Village, Mayfield, Abbotsford and Houndridge have already been reconnected and the process of reconnection is on-going in Ednam Road, Sydenham Court, Oakfield Court and Hendersyde Drive and properties in these areas should have supplies back in place by tonight (Tuesday).
Broomlands Primary School will reopen tomorrow (Wednesday) but Kelso High School (with the exception of the drop-in centre) and Edenside Primary will remain closed. Pupils at Kelso High School sitting prelim exams should, however, attend school for these.
Kelso Hospital and health centre are operating as normal.
NHS Borders and SBC Social Work teams will continue to keep in contact with elderly and vulnerable residents and those with special healthcare needs. Contact with these residents will be maintained until the gas supply is restored.
Temporary electric heaters and cooking appliances have already been lent to many local residents and similar arrangements have been made in care homes, sheltered housing complexes and Kelso Hospital. Electric heaters are still available for collection at the drop-in centre at Kelso High School.
General advice to those householders who will remain without a gas supply tonight is to concentrate on keeping one room in the house warm – using electric heaters.
SGN has established a helpline on 0845 070 1432 and more information is available on their website at www.scotiagasnetworks.co.uk
Any residents requiring urgent assistance should phone SBC’s Bordercare on 01896 752111 – at any time of the day or night.
Further information on the supply restoration works and drop-in centre will be available tomorrow.
Unified Solutions.