A few months back National Grid sent our
road a letter saying they were going to
"renew the old pipe" which delivers gas to
your property" within the next few months.
And would need to gain access simply to turn
the supply on and off at the meter.

The meter is a Parkinson Cowan dial meter and was
fitted around 30 years ago.
Which I thought meant renewing the gas main
under the road. (There was a leak a while back
and that's where it was).
All the houses in this road were built around
1925-30.
Last week a chap called and said they may need
to install an outside meter, replacing the
present indoor meter as well.. When I asked
why he says it would be necessary if they
couldn't insert the liner (which they apparently
are going to fit in the supply pipe) all the way
along to the meter.
The problem is that my present meter is at the back
of a built-in cupboard. It can be read easily enough
and the supply lever is easily reached to disconnect
the supply. But as things stand the cupboard would
need to be dismantled/destroyed if it was necessary
to physically disconnect the old meter.

My question is, is there something simple they can do
to permanently bypass the meter by making some simple
but permanent adjustment ? Which wouldn't necessitate
dismantling the built in cupboard.

Thank you

Kevin Miller