Useful Info

MORE than 500 homes in Northwood are still without gas this morning (18) after a burst water pipe leaked into the mains supply.

A team of engineers were sent to repair the damaged gas main yesterday afternoon and have been working throughout the night to pump excess water out.

ABOUT 500 homes in Northwood have been left without gas after a burst water pipe leaked into the mains supply.

A spokesperson for the National Grid, which provides power and energy supplies across the country, confirmed a team of engineers had been sent to repair the damaged gas main, in Green Lane, and are in the process of pumping water out.

UP TO 1,000 homes in Northwood are believed to have been left without gas this morning (17).

A large water main in Green Lane is said to have ruptured, blocking the gas supply.

Mike Wood, of Copsewood Way, Northwood, said: "I woke up this morning and noticed the heating was off - there was no gas.

"I have emergency 24 hour cover with British Gas so I called the switchboard at 9am and they agreed to send an engineer out, although by 1pm, no one had arrived yet.

"I was told that around 1,000 homes have been affected but they haven't been able to tell me why.

"My wife said it looked like a large water main in Green Lane had been ruptured and this could have affected the gas pipe.

"Several friends and neighbours in the area have told me they are suffering the same problems - but some of them are elderly and need their heating.

"It is very frustrating waiting around to find out what's going on."

More to follow.

Were you left without gas this morning? Contact Gazette reporter Siba Matti on 07788567259, email sibamatti@trinitysouth.co.uk or post a comment below.

TRADERS in Mill End have vowed to fight new proposals by Tesco to build an Express convenience store - just months after similar plans were rejected in the face of fierce public opposition.

Two applications by the supermarket giant to build a store, with eight and seven flats respectively, on the site of the former Happy Man pub in Berry Lane, have already been abandoned.

CONCERNS are growing for a 39-year-old who has been missing for more than a month.

Police believe Marcus Dawson, who lives in St Albans and went missing on February 10, could be in the Rickmansworth or Uxbridge area.

MOTORISTS who block of other people's driveways in Three Rivers will now be fined.

Following a recent change in law, as of Monday (15) the district council can issue parking tickets to drivers who park on or in front of a dropped kerb, blocking vehicle and pedestrian access.

The move comes after a number of residents complained about people parking inconsiderately across their driveway entrances.

Drivers will only be fined if the home owner reporters the infringement to the council on 01908 223 506, to avoid tickets being issued to guests with parking permission.

THREE Rivers district council has expanded its efforts to help residents recycle their rubbish.

Since last Friday (12), plastics such as yoghurt pots, ice cream and margarine tubs, tetra paks, flower pots, plastic bags, bottle tops and microwave meal trays can be left in kerbside recycling boxes for collection.

Cling film, expanded polystyrene foam and raw meat trays will not be accepted for hygiene reasons.

For more information visit www.threerivers.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/RubbishWasteRecycling

A BUSY section of the M25 is due to be closed later this month while work to re-instate a footbridge across the carriageway is carried out.

Traffic will be diverted through Rickmansworth (via Uxbridge Road and Chorleywood Road) for about seven hours as the motorway is shut between junction 17 to 18 eastbound from 10pm on Saturday, March 27.

Liberal Democrat frontbencher Simon Hughes answered questions from voters in Northwood last Monday (8) as he spelled out his party's vision for Britain. SIBA MATTI reports on an evening of heated debate...

YOUNG people were at the heart of the agenda when Liberal Democrat cabinet spokesman for energy and climate change, Simon Hughes, visited Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue.

TRADERS have won a year-long campaign to get a stop and shop parking scheme installed in Northwood Hills.

The scheme, backed by the local chamber of commerce, was officially approved by Councillor Keith Burrows, cabinet member for planning and transportation, yesterday (11), after the council carried out an informal consultation last February.