Residents gassed off after work starts without consultation

Lagan Valley DUP Assembly Member Paul Givan and Dunmurry Councillor Margaret Tolerton say they have been flooded with complaints about contractors digging up parts of the road, footpaths and gardens without prior notice.

Mr Givan said: "I became aware that Phoenix Gas intended to carry out installation work after a local resident gave me a letter they had received thanking them for choosing to get connected to Phoenix Natural Gas and saying that work would be undertaken in the near future.

"At no time was the lady contacted by Phoenix Gas or the Housing Executive about this issue and she was shocked that just days after receiving the letter contractors arrived on Saturday morning and dug up the footpath outside her house. They then proceeded to install a gas box to her house, digging up the garden.

"When I called with the lady the work had not been finished and a hole was left in the footpath."

He continued: "Work had also been carried out in other parts of Seymour Hill and residents I spoke with were very unhappy with what had happened and annoyed at the mess left behind. I have raised this with the Housing Executive and they confirmed that Phoenix should not have installed any meters to the houses and that work should only have taken place to the mains system.

"The Executive has assured me that residents who do not want the meter will have it removed and I will be contacting Phoenix Gas and asking for an explanation."

Mrs Tolerton added: "Phoenix Gas has managed this very badly and should have contacted local people and identified those who wish to be connected as some will be content but others will not and are very annoyed that they haven't been consulted. Residents are unhappy.

"This is an unsatisfactory way to conduct business and Phoenix Gas and the Housing Executive will need to learn lessons from this episode and ensure it doesn't happen again."

A Phoenix spokesman said: "A large number of Housing Executive properties throughout Northern Ireland have been upgraded to natural gas heating and Seymour Hill is now to benefit from such an improvement programme. We would like to apologise to residents for any disruption and assure them that all remedial work will be carried out as quickly as possible".

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