WHY is it taking the National Grid so long to detect gas leaks in the area surrounding the traffic lights at the junction of Hough Lane, Sale Lane and Manchester Road in Tyldesley?

I would have thought that a gas leak would be of paramount importance to detect and cure, yet the National Grid arrived – again – on Friday, September 16, set up the usual barriers and temporary traffic lights and then promptly cleared off.

They were here recently for more than five weeks. During that time no overtime, including weekends, was worked, resulting in massive traffic hold-ups for most of the 24 hours in a day.

Each time I have visited the site to see if there is any activity there has been no workmen to be seen.

The lack of a sense of urgency (and smell) in this matter is overwhelming.

Road users are now facing even more horrid delays while the National Grid do whatever they are supposed to be doing, which, at the moment, seems to amount to zilch.

As a pensioner my heart bleeds for local road users who are having to suffer greatly due to the National Grid’s incompetence and lack of organisation.

Fred Parr

Sale Lane

Tyldesley

A spokesman for the National Grid said: “We have been carrying out two different kinds of work at the junction referred to by Mr Parr.

“He mentions a project lasting five weeks – this was when we were carrying out some work to replace old metal mains with modern plastic pipes.

“We appreciate that this work would have caused issues for motorists, but it is essential for us to put traffic controls in place while we work to protect drivers and to protect our engineers.

“The new pipes we have laid are designed to last at least 80 years.

“We apologise for the delays caused but would say that the short-term disruption will bring a long-term benefit in the shape of a safe and reliable gas supply for the people of Tyldesley for generations to come.

“We have been working on a piece of equipment housed inside a kiosk in the same area after detecting a minor gas escape on it.

“We expect the work will be completed well before the end of this week.”