On Wed, 25 May 2005 09:51:04 +0100, David Hearn
wrote:



Although this is the same Transco which was charged with culpable
homicide after failing to maintain their gas main which was "extensively
corroded" which then leaked, causing a gas leak into the foundations of
a house, blowing it up in 1999, killing a whole family of 4.
"quantities of gas escaped from the main, entered the foundations of the
house and formed a gas cloud which ignited and exploded."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/574946.stm


Indeed they have been charged though NGT deny the charge and will
defend it.

Trying to maintain a nuetral stance, it would be an impossibilty to
survey and maintain every single inch of the gas distribution system
so that it doesnt leak. It is humanly and physically impossible. The
distribution network for gas,just like water and electric,leaks in
various places. Thats why there is an odourant added to the gas.
Hopefully people smell the leaks and then they get attention.Often
times people will say hey i smelled gas there a few days ago (but they
didnt report it). I think this scenario was played out at Larkhall,the
case you highlight.

Moving to another issue,although no one will admit it,safety has a
price. In the good old days of British Gas doing everything,money was
practically no object and maintenanace was of the highest standard. We
now have a privatised industry open to market forces. Ofgem,the
industry regulator,continually works to drive down costs,something has
to give. NGT would have loved to replce miles of cast iron mains in
years gone buy byt Ofgem,would not allow them to spend the money,hence
they continued to deteriorate,they leaked,people got injured,their
homes wrecked and even died. Since a series of high profile explosions
and deaths such as Larkhall and others, Ofgem have crapped
themselves,realised that someone would eventually suss out that their
cost custting was to blame,and have taken the brakes off
spending,allowing Transco to launch a massive national gas mains
replacement program. Of course Ofgem is claiming it is their
initiative to improve safety,they safety they previously threatened.

So then,things are not always as they seem. There are other powers at
work....

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