Roadworks set to begin on pipeline in Saintfield

Roadworks set to begin on pipeline in Saintfield

20 February 2019

WORK to bring natural gas to the heart of Saintfield is to start earlier than planned.

Phoenix Natural Gas — which is investing £60m to extend its expansive network to towns across East Down — was due to start work in the town’s Main Street area in September.

However, contractors will be in the town early next month at the request of roads officials with the work focusing on an area starting at the Fair Green, running through to Station Road via Main Street and Todds Hill. The work is expected to take seven weeks to complete.

Contractors are due to begin work in the centre of Saintfield on March 11 and Rowallane councillor Billy Walker is urging people to be patient during the scheme.

Today, between 3pm and 7pm, Phoenix officials will be hosting a public information event at the Rowallane Community Hub in Main Street to outline the programme of work and discuss it with residents and the business community.

Phoenix says it is making significant progress on its East Down investment proposal and revealed that Transport NI is managing a number of other construction programmes in surrounding areas which include road closures.

Cllr Walker said as a result, Phoenix has been asked to bring forward its work in the town centre to fit in with other planned projects in the area.

He also confirmed that the new pipeline programme has been discussed with several community representatives including Saintfield Development Association officials and a representative from Saintfield Trader’s Group who had expressed concern about 

the works taking place in September. 

While Phoenix admits that the construction programme will “inevitably not be convenient for a number of residents and business owners”, it says bringing the work forward by six months will result in the most disruptive set of works being completed by late April or early May, rather than later in the year.

Company officials have also visited businesses to outline the nature of the work, with Phoenix undertaking to do all it can during the construction process to accommodate business needs. 

Officials plan to work closely with the town’s Development Association and provide funding for a ‘shop local’ campaign to encourage trade within Saintfield as work on the scheme continues.

Residents in the area affected by the pipe laying work have also been informed about the change in the construction timetable.

Cllr Walker, who is a keen supporter of bringing natural gas to East Down to provide consumers with an additional element of choice when it comes to their energy supplier, hopes contractors will not encounter any significant hurdles as they progress along Main Street.

“It is important people remain patient during the latest aspect of the work in Main Street,” he said. “As this is the main route through the heart of the town, disruption will be inevitable.

“The fact that the work programme has been brought forward is positive given that it will be carried out when the days are longer. Hopefully this will mean that the work could potentially be completed sooner than planned.”

Cllr Walker says Phoenix will hope to use underground drilling where possible and is appealing to people to continue to support local businesses.

He added: “The Saintfield business community is the backbone of the town’s economy and provides essential employment. It is important everyone continues to support traders during this scheme.”