Gas main replacement works on Upton Road in Poole have been delayed after damage was caused to operational machinery earlier this week.
Southern Gas Network (SGN) confirmed that “significant damage was caused on Monday night to our operational machinery by an unknown source.”
The company said the incident has been reported to the police and is now under investigation.
The delay means the start of the project has been pushed back while replacement machinery is arranged. SGN has also announced that CCTV cameras are being installed along Upton Road, including one at Fleetsbridge roundabout and two in the centre of the road, to help protect the site.
Pergin Crescent will now be closed to traffic following an onsite safety review at the junction with Upton Road, which SGN says is necessary to ensure residents’ safety.
To prevent any further damage, the company plans to park its machinery overnight on Upton Road in front of the Pergin Crescent closure.
Councillor Judes Butt said she was in regular contact with SGN and doing all he could to limit disruption. She added that Creekmoor residents had already faced months of restricted access last year due to emergency gas repairs, and understood that the latest work, while essential, would still cause inconvenience locally.
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