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Gas supply battle as cold bites Second icy night looms for homes
(about 3 hours later)
Engineers are battling to restore gas supplies to about 3,000 properties in the Kelso area. A number of homes will be without gas for a second night after supplies to about 3,000 properties in the Scottish Borders were lost on Monday.
The homes could be without gas supplies for several days. A gas governor shut down affecting thousands of people in the Kelso area.
A gas governor shut down on Monday, cutting supplies to homes to the north of the River Tweed and 70 houses in the village of Ednam. More than 100 engineers have been working to restore supplies with priority being given to hospitals, care homes, sheltered housing and schools.
Secondary and primary schools have been closed and temperatures overnight dropped to -2C. A helpline is available on 0845 070 1432. However, it is expected a number of properties will be without supplies as temperatures drop as low as -3C.
Scotia Gas Networks have set up a drop-in centre at Kelso High where the heating is fuelled by oil. Scotia Gas Networks said the faulty gas installation which caused the loss of supplies had been repaired.
Temporary cooking and heating facilities are being made available to those customers who are particularly vulnerable Scotia Gas Networks class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=3656">Kelso five day weather forecast class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7760166.stm">'Severe' weather warning issued The high school centre, which will open at 0930 GMT on Tuesday, will supply hot food to those affected. Engineers are now starting reconnecting homes to the mains supply.
Kelso High School, Broomlands Primary and Edenside Primary will remain closed to pupils on Tuesday. Some properties in the Ednam area have already been reconnected.
John Lamont is the MSP for the area. He told BBC Radio Scotland: "The priority is to get the town connected again as fast as possible. Temporary heating and cooking units are available for vulnerable or elderly people and residents with young children or babies.
"The snow's here - they need to get these old people connected to gas as soon as possible. And the next two or three days it's not going to improve any." People need to know what the position is so they can make the necessary arrangements for alternative heating or even going to stay with friends or relatives John Lamont MSP class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=3656">Kelso five day weather forecast class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7760166.stm">'Severe' weather warning issued
'Wrong time' These are being provided at a drop-in "warm" centre in Kelso High School.
A spokeswoman from Scotia Gas Networks said the exact cause of the fault was still under investigation, but that the priority was to get the supply connected again. A helpline is also available on 0845 070 1432.
She was unable to say when this would happen but fears have been raised that it could take several days. Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP John Lamont visited the drop-in centre and praised the efforts being made to tackle the situation.
"We have got as many engineers as possible drafted in from the surrounding area. We've got them working round the clock," she said. "However, there is still some degree of confusion as to when the gas supply will be fully reconnected," he added.
The firm added: "Temporary cooking and heating facilities are being made available to those customers who are particularly vulnerable such as those who are elderly, chronically sick or disabled, have young children or other special needs." "Some people have been told their gas will be back on today whilst others have heard that it will not be until Thursday.
Extra engineers have been drafted in to complete the reconnection work. "People need to know what the position is so they can make the necessary arrangements for alternative heating or even going to stay with friends or relatives."
Kelso resident, Alastair Hutton, the convenor of Borders Council told BBC Scotland: "It's an unexpected blow - this is the wrong time of year for this sort of thing to happen. Scottish Borders Council has been working closely with SGN and NHS Borders to protect vulnerable residents.
"When I spoke to the men yesterday, they were expecting to go around every single house in the area turning the supply off and turning it on again - but we expect to have it done within two or three days." It said contacts with the elderly and those with special healthcare needs would be maintained until supplies were restored.
General advice to householders facing a second night without gas supply is to concentrate on keeping one room in the house warm using electric heaters.
Anyone requiring urgent assistance should phone SBC's Bordercare on 01896 752111.
Are you in the area? Have you lost your gas supply?Are you in the area? Have you lost your gas supply?
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