Jim GM4DHJ ... explained on 11/10/2019 :
that shouldn't happen

Understandable I suppose. I doubt they had in mind when the laid the
original pipes, that there would be much need to build so many
extensions and garages.

When the laid the new pipe, the homes to our right have a drive, but
there is no easy underground route to get a pipe from the front, to the
rear where their meters are. The result was gas feeds run on the
surface down the sides of those houses.

I gave the installers leave to run next doors supply pipe up my drive,
with my own buried supply pipe.