Kirkburton residents and traders evacuated after gas leak

Dec 23 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Kirkburton residents and traders evacuated after gas leak

TRADERS and residents had to be evacuated from Kirkburton after a gas leak.

The occupants of two homes were evacuated late on Monday night and three shops on North Road were forced to close yesterday as workers battled to fix a gas leak.

Hairdresser Adelle Bentley had back to back bookings until 8pm yesterday but had to cancel them due to the gas leak right outside her studio. She will re-open today after rearranging appointments.

And although butcher Russ Parkinson has been allowed to open, he has 400 customers due at his shop today and tomorrow to collect orders.

United Utilities were working on site all yesterday and fixed the gas leak during the morning.

But they wouldn’t allow the traders and residents back into their properties until the levels of gas had reduced to a safe level.

Adelle, owner of the Gerrard Bentley Hair Studio, had to turn customers away when the leak was discovered in front of her salon.

She and two members of staff had to cancel appointments.

Adelle said: “I’m sorry for the customers but it’s out of my control.

“There was a smell of gas yesterday and although I couldn’t smell it in the salon, I could smell it downstairs and as soon as I came outside I could smell it properly.

“I was fully booked all day until 8pm – it’s the busiest time of the year for me and a shame it has to happen now.”

Russ Parkinson, who runs the butchers shop on North Road, said the roadworks would cause problems for his 400 customers today and tomorrow as they collect their Christmas orders.

He said: “It was an accident and they’re doing their best to get it fixed.