TRANSCO replacing my gas pipe- who pays?

plodder73

Hi evertone bit of a strange one this, Transco have been replacing the steel gas pipes outside my house with what looks like yellow plastic ones, most of the places where they have dug they have filled in apart from the bit round my house where they have left my gas pipe exposed (it is barriered) and they have marked with yellow paint the path of the pipe into my land. They havent told me anything but they have mentioned to my neighbour about replacing my pipe, however to do so they will have to under or around a dry stone wall, then through my garden. My questions are
1. Do they have to give me notice
2 Do I have the right to refuse and if I do can they cut me off

More importantly
3. Who foots the cost
4. Who makes good the mess they make.

Any advice gratefully received I find it very strange that I havent been told.

Ken68

They did that, Plodder, to my property several years ago.
Notice was given, but no indication of route.
Come the day they dug up a border, buried the pipe and put back the plants. Fortunately was autumn so did no harm as the plants were going into rest period anyway.
Then took up some slabs, same thing, got an idea they sent the pipe to my neighbour too. Put back the slabs, no problem. I didn't pay, other than providing 2 mugs of tea with lots of sugar.

tripled

If you don't let them replace your pipe, they are quite likely to say they can't connect it to the rest of the new piping so you won't have any gas till you give them permission to complete the work. You won't have to pay for it though, as they are maintaining your existing supply (the cost of which is part of your gas bill).

dc

They would need access to your house to purge the air out of any new pipe, I take it you were out at work when they were finishing off.

They also could be having an adapter made to join up your existing pipe to their nice new yellow pipe and this takes time. No doubt they will be back.

andrew-b

Our road had new gas pipes earlier this year..all free of charge. Notice was given a couple of times as they were delayed in starting. They dug one hole in the garden at the side of my house just to verify the path of the gas pipe, disconnected the gas pipe at the meter. They then passed the new pipe through the old pipe (by sucking it through) before reconnecting up to the meter. They did the same with everyone in the street. Took less than an hour to fit the new pipe, no mess, no hassle. They disconnected us a second time to connect us up to the new gas main in the street and came in again to test.

Andy

wasted

As people have already been saying, there is lilkey to be no charge to you for the work being carried out. As for right of access. I recently reviewd the original tittle deed for my house and there was a covenant put in place.

"Except and reserved unto the vendor the free passage and running of water gas soil and electricity through on or under the land therby conveyed from all parts of the adjoining estate of the vendors with power to enter construct lay and repair pipes drains and watercourses making good all damage occassioned therby." (Lack of puctuation as recorded in the deed)

Roughly translated

They can dig it up as many times as they like providing they make good any damage caused.

You may find the same type of covenant in your deeds.

1882

They wont and indeed cant charge for anything being done to pipe before it reaches the meter - afterwards perhaps.

wasted

There are still some good things about living in the UK.

My Brother lives in Germany and has to pay for such work if the utility provider deems it neccessary in order to maintain the infrastructure.