Ulster Unionist Infrastructure spokesperson & MLA for East Antrim John Stewart has welcomed a milestone in the campaign to get natural gas availability extended to Whitehead.
Mr Stewart said:
“News that the Utility Regulator has issued a notice confirming that it
has approved the application from Phoenix Natural Gas to extend its
licence area to include the town of Whitehead is a significant
milestone. This has opened up the prospect of the natural gas operator
extending its mains pipe from Carrickfergus and bringing the
availability of natural gas as a heating/ cooking option for over two
thousand domestic and commercial properties in Whitehead in 2019.
“This has been a long time coming and I have had numerous meetings and
correspondence with Phoenix, the Regulator and the Housing Executive
about this in recent months. This is particularly good news for the
tenants of Housing Executive properties at Windsor who, I know, are very
keen to replace their outdated and inefficient Economy 7 storage
heaters. I have been liaising with the Housing Executive and I know
they are keen and willing to develope a new heating scheme for Windsor
and district once the pipework is installed.
“This is about choice and competition in the energy market. While not everyone will want to take up the option of natural gas, and many will prefer to stay with their local oil supplier, at least the option will be there for the residents of Whitehead. Whilst timescales for construction are still being finalised I understand that mains construction will begin this year with actual properties having gas available in 2019.
“What needs to happen next, and what I will continue to push for is another agreement between the Regulator and the gas operators to infill the areas where natural gas is available to allow more people to be able to afford to be connected to the existing network in the urban areas of Larne, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey.”
ENDS
Note to Editor
The UR notice can be viewed at:
https://www.uregni.gov.uk/news-centre/gas-whitehead-approved
“This has been a long time coming and I have had numerous meetings and
correspondence with Phoenix, the Regulator and the Housing Executive
about this in recent months. This is particularly good news for the
tenants of Housing Executive properties at Windsor who, I know, are very
keen to replace their outdated and inefficient Economy 7 storage
heaters. I have been liaising with the Housing Executive and I know
they are keen and willing to develope a new heating scheme for Windsor
and district once the pipework is installed.“This is about choice and competition in the energy market. While not everyone will want to take up the option of natural gas, and many will prefer to stay with their local oil supplier, at least the option will be there for the residents of Whitehead. Whilst timescales for construction are still being finalised I understand that mains construction will begin this year with actual properties having gas available in 2019.
“What needs to happen next, and what I will continue to push for is another agreement between the Regulator and the gas operators to infill the areas where natural gas is available to allow more people to be able to afford to be connected to the existing network in the urban areas of Larne, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey.”
ENDS
Note to Editor
The UR notice can be viewed at:
https://www.uregni.gov.uk/news-centre/gas-whitehead-approved
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