A local minister has praised our engineering teams for completing planned work in Tunbridge Wells more than two weeks ahead of schedule.
MP Greg Clark congratulated us for making excellent progress upgrading our gas network along A264 Pembury Road, which was closed for safety, and commended efforts to collaborate with partner organisations to carry out additional work simultaneously to help minimise future disruption in the area.
Mr Clark said: “The idea of this busy arterial road into the town being out of action for six weeks was very worrying. However, I’ve been very impressed with SGN and their contractors WCB. They’ve been cooperative throughout and have taken the time to explain the reason for the works and why things had to be done the way they have.
“Communication has been excellent, and I’ve been impressed with the speed of response from SGN – especially in relation to the need for additional signage. I’m grateful SGN responded to representations from councillors and I to accelerate the works by deploying extra crew – as a result, the works were finished early, and I realise that this is also down to good site management and hard work. A huge thanks to all those that made this happen.”
Finishing ahead of schedule was largely thanks to our contractors WCB who were able to assign additional resources to this project. An extra two teams, plus agreeing with the local authority to work extended hours, ensured we replaced a kilometre of our old metal mains with new plastic pipe inside four weeks.
To help mitigate the impact on the community, we worked with Kent Highways to enable them to carry out some improvement works within our work area. Their teams cleaned drainage channels, repaired existing kerb damage, and cut back vegetation around permanent signage. We also jointly established and funded a replacement shuttle bus service from Tunbridge Wells town centre to the local hospital while the regular service was impacted by Pembury Road’s closure.
Our Stakeholder and Community Manager Helen Peile said: “It’s great to receive endorsement of any kind when 18 months of planning and hard work is thrown at a project. But to get positive feedback from a member of parliament regarding network upgrades in a particularly sensitive area, is testament to the collaboration, dedication and efficiency demonstrated by all involved.
“In addition to the fantastic feedback from MP Greg Clark, local councillors and Kent Highways also praised us on our project which is particularly pleasing – given the high level of local interest and concern closing a major road in Tunbridge Wells would cause.
“I’m delighted we were able to successfully complete this work ahead of schedule and this has definitely positively affected SGN’s reputation in the area. Well done to everyone involved!”
