A MAJOR gas leak erupted on a Wokingham road yesterday, leading to affected residents having to keep their windows closed.
A team from South East Water were working on Keephatch Road, which has been closed to allow them to do so.
Around 1.30pm on Thursday, October 27, a gas main was ruptured, and was leaking.
Because the gas is escaping into the air, Wokingham Today understands it is not thought to be a big enough danger to evacuate residents.
However, the leaking gas could be heard, and residents reported a gas haze in the air.
A team from SGN were on site, and were seen wearing breathing apparatus in a bid to make the area safe.
Council staff were also on hand.
An eyewitness said: “They just can’t shut it off.
“We’ve been told to shut all windows and not let gas into our houses.”
However, SGN were able to complete the repairs and make the area safe.
Dan Brown, spokesperson for gas company SGN, said: “We’ve been working to urgently fix our gas network in Keephatch Road following third party damage.
“The road was closed as a precaution while our engineers worked to repair the affected pipe. This repair has now been completed and the road has reopened.”
Steve Voyce, South East Water Site Supervisor, said: “We have been working with our colleagues at SGN who have repaired a damaged gas pipe close to our works.
“We are now continuing to lay our new water pipe, which will safeguard residents’ tap water pressures as water use increases due to local population increase.
“Customers’ supplies were unaffected, but we’re sorry for any worry caused.”
