Calls for more safety measures for gas users after election canvasser discover leak

UUP canvassers '˜averted a potential disaster' when they discovered a gas leak outside a house in Seymour Hill when they were on the election trail.

Ulster Unionist Party candidate for Lagan Valley, Mrs Jenny Palmer has stressed that “the next Stormont Executive must make health and safety a major priority and set aside dedicated funding to help constituents detect gas leaks”.

Mrs Palmer, who is also UUP Spokesperson on Infrastructure, issued her challenge after her UUP canvassing team averted a potential disaster when they discovered a gas leak outside a house in the Seymour Hill estate when they were on the election trail.

Mrs Palmer recalled: “I personally would like to congratulate some of my canvass team in Seymour Hill on Saturday who alerted Phoenix Gas about a gas leak outside a house in the estate.

Ulster Unionist Party MLA Jenny Palmer 
Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.Ulster Unionist Party MLA Jenny Palmer 
Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Ulster Unionist Party MLA Jenny Palmer Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

“I also want to congratulate Phoenix Gas for its fast responses as the company was on site within 30 minutes. I spoke to the engineer and he advised me there was a small leak at the meter box, assuring us that the risk was minimal and replaced the faulty part.

“The company also advised the neighbouring property of the problem and thankfully it was resolved properly.

“While the company acted fast to tackle the situation, the next Stormont Executive will need to make health and safety a major priority and set aside dedicated funding to help constituents detect gas leaks and get the relevant company alerted as soon as possible so that potential dangers are averted,” said Mrs Palmer.

A spokesperson for Phoenix Natural Gas said: “Phoenix Natural Gas responded to an isolated incident on Saturday, February 18 2017 at Oakland Way in Dunmurry, after being notified of reports of a smell of gas coming from a property in the area.

Ulster Unionist Party MLA Jenny Palmer 
Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.Ulster Unionist Party MLA Jenny Palmer 
Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Ulster Unionist Party MLA Jenny Palmer Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

“Phoenix Natural Gas engineering teams responded within ten minutes to make safe the area and isolate the incident within the property. The property was empty at the time, therefore Phoenix engineering teams followed protocol to disconnect the gas supply to this property only.”