Leak spurs review call by council

Feb 1 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

WIRRAL Council is asking energy firms to review their emergency compensation schemes in the wake of an incident which saw 5,000 homes left without gas for a week.

On Monday councillors discussed the council’s response to the disruption in Leasowe and Moreton last November.

The sustainable communities, overview and scrutiny committee heard the problem was caused by a water main fracturing at the junction of Danger Lane and Hoylake Road causing water to pour into the gas supply network.

National Grid issued and distributed electric heaters free of charge to all affected properties but councillors were told some older residents were worried about using the heaters, fearing they would not be able to afford the future fuel bill.

Ian Burnett from National Grid told the meeting National Grid had sent out compensation payments of £30 for each full day householders were affected.

He said: “Ofgem has set a requirement for us to pay compensation back to the actual supplier and they should pass that on.

“In this case because of the time that would have taken we identified the customers affected to get the money out to them as directly as we could.”

Mark Camborne, the council’s health, safety & resilience operations manager, said he wanted to look at whether compensation payments could in future be paid to the council, who could then pass it on to people affected.

Community groups who helped deliver heaters and meals to vulnerable residents were praised by councillors for their response.

But representatives from United Utilities dismissed council officers’ claims that Wirral’s ageing infrastructure meant it could face more risks to its utility and energy supplies.