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Mains Gas introduced to Ochtrelure and Belmont areas

MAINS GAS is to begin to be introduced to the Ochtrelure and Belmont areas of Stranraer within two months.

Contracts from the pipeline suppliers ES Pipelines will be sent out to every household in the next three to four weeks.

And Nick Clark from the company told a meeting on Tuesday night

"You have waited long enough for a gas connection so do not let the grass grow under your feet because we want this to come to fruition".

ES Pipelines are offering an initial connection charge of £300 but warn that this might increase in future years.

"I want you to take that on board", he told the crowd.

"It will cost more to bring back the contractor at a later date to do a single connection".

Mr Clark said that initially the company had looked at the Ochtrelure and McMasters estates for mains gas but that the project had grown and they were now also looking at other areas.

The timescale for McMasters Road was not detailed.

Another pipeline company Transco, who came under fire for the high price quoted for connection in the same area have objected to ES Pipelines' plans. But, Mr Clark said that their objections were likely to be dismissed this week by gas regulators.

And, he added "Once the contracts have gone out and come back , we are looking to start by early October".

Streets will be prioritised depending on how big the uptake is and discussions are continuing with Dumfries and Galloway Council to bring local authority housing into the scheme.

"We need quite a good support level across the whole project to be able to get the best out of this", he said.