Gas Main Renewal Works
The RRA were recently contacted by WCB Utilities working on behalf of SGN about further gas main renewal works planned for our area and also in the adjoining in the Purley & Woodcote RA area.
WCB advised: “The current gas mains are metallic and have come to the end of their lifespan, so we are replacing them with polyethylene pipes that have a 80-year lifespan. We use an insertion technique, so we don’t have long open cut trenches throughout the roads.
We have a project starting at the beginning of November 2025, I have attached a project drawing which highlights in yellow the gas mains we are renewing however, we won’t be looking to do this full project just yet, however, will be looking to complete a large majority.
Cliff End, Selcroft Road, Purley Hill, Oakwood Avenue and Riddlesdown Road will be completed under road closures, residents will still have access, our road closures will be at a single points, residents will follow the small diversion route around to the other side of our works to access their properties, for Cliff End being a dead end road access will be maintained however will be restricted at times when we have lorries on site on specific days.
We will have only one closure point up at a time, and reinstatement will follow after engineering works have been completed.”
WCB advise they will update us further nearer the time.
However, in summary and consulting the One Network website, https://one.network/ the works planned are:
Full length of Cliff End
Start date: Monday 3 November 2025.
Work duration: 2.5 weeks.
Traffic management: Road Closure.
Full length of Selcroft Road
Start date: Thursday 14 November.
Work duration: 5 weeks.
Traffic management: Road Closure.
Full length of Purley Hill
Start date: Friday 28 November.
Work duration: 3.5 weeks.
Traffic management: Road closure.
Full length of Oakwood Avenue
Start date: Friday 2 January 2026
Work duration: 6 weeks.
Traffic management: Road closure.
For the final part of the works, they will start along Riddlesdown Road, outside of No. 86 to the junction with Mitchley Avenue.
Start date: Monday 26 January 2026
Work duration: 4.5 weeks.
Traffic management: Road closure.
These above dates are subject to change.
WCB further advise;
“Maintaining access
SGN are committed to minimising disruption as much as possible and will ensure:
Pedestrian access and property access is maintained
Local businesses and residents can continue to receive deliveries – please speak to our site team regarding any specific access arrangements
Emergency access will be preserved
Staying Informed
The team will be on site and available to speak with you throughout the project. If you have any concerns, questions, or specific access requirements, please don’t hesitate to speak with one of their engineers but if you are having trouble.”
We are advised there will be other roads nearby having the gas mains renewed in due course, but not immediately.