Total nightmare with gas pipe - any helpful advice?

[LadyG1976]

Hi all,

I was sold a maisonette recently that was supposed to be electric only.

Whilst doing a total refub of the place, I have uncovered an old gas pipe in the kitchen sticking up 8 inches exactly where I need my built under oven to go.

The gas pipe is live and the emergency gas man told me he is unable to cap it off at a lower level (I need it dropped 2 inches) because in order to do that he would have to unscrew the collar allowing tons of gas into the apartment - i.e. there is no isolator valve. The nearest one would be under the garden or worse still - under the road!

The whole project has come to a stand still cos of this dratted pipe - South Wales & West who are responsible for all British Gas/Transco pipes in this area have said they'll send out an assessor in about two weeks to estimate what needs doing but are also saying I will then have to pay for a two man crew to dig a hole in the road and switch off the gas from the mains in the road before being able to cap it off at a lower level. Cost: Thousands!! All for the sake of two inches!!

Can anyone help me out here?

Desperate of Wiltshire

 

[corgiman]

Sorry but nope. if its a mains supply no one can touch it

Such is life

 

[namsag]

Your only get out maybe under there own regs. If gas is not used for 12 months it must be cut off to property either by screwing down house entry tee or capping in street. But if it is a shared service you may have to pay

 

[LadyG1976]

Thanks Namsag! Sounds like a fab get out clause and I bet they wouldn't have told me!

A greatful Lady G of Wiltshire

 

[Gasguru]

Can't you just re-jig the unit layout?...perhaps you could have the oven at high level in a full height unit.

 

[namsag]

They may still get out of it but at least you know what they are meant to do,