Gas leak - Romsey area of Hampshire
Dear Scotia Gas Networks Limited,
I am writing to make a request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) regarding the high pressure gas pipeline leak that occurred in the Romsey area of Hampshire on 16 July 2024 (https://sgn.co.uk/news/gas-leak-romsey-a...).
Please provide the following information:
- Any estimate for the mass of gas released into the atmosphere as a result of this pipe failure (If you do not have any detail on the amount of gas lost, please explicitly say that you don't).
- The age of the damaged pipeline section (year of installation)
- The material composition of the damaged pipeline (e.g., steel, polyethylene, cast iron)
- The pipeline's diameter and operating pressure
- The specific reason why this pipe failed. External damage? Lack of maintenance? Has the cause been identified?
- The associated number of reports of gas leaks by members of the public and their reported location in relation to this event.
- Any environmental impact assessment conducted after the incident.
- Clarification on how long the leak was active before it was isolated at 10pm
- The location of the leak (latitude, longitude).
Thank you for your assistance with this matter.
Yours faithfully,
James Twallin
If you smell gas or are concerned about gas safety, please call the
24-hour National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Hello
Thank you for your email, this is an automated reply from the SGN Customer
Service team
Our Customer Service Centre is currently open Monday to Friday 8.30am to
8pm, and Saturday 8am to 4pm - excluding Bank Holidays This inbox is not
monitored outside of these hours.
To help us reply as quickly as possible, if not already provided, please
let us know the following information:
1. Your contact details (name, company name, address and preferred phone
number)
2. The full address and postcode of the work location
3. Any reference numbers you may have
4. If you require information in a different format or language
5. Your preferred method of contact
Extra help for those who need it most
We offer a range of services to provide extra help for those who need it
most. If you, or anyone you know, could benefit from any of our free extra
help services, please visit [1]sgn.co.uk/extra-help or call our Careline
on 0800 975 1818.
At SGN we are committed to respecting your privacy at all times. For
details on how we use your data, please refer to our Privacy Notice which
is available [2]here.
This email is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended
solely for the addressees and access to this email by anyone else is
unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient,
please immediately notify the sender of the error in transmission and then
delete this email. Please note that any disclosure, copying, distribution
is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, emails and attachments are neither
an offer capable of acceptance nor acceptance of an offer and do not form
part of a binding contractual agreement.
Emails may not represent the views of SGN.
Please be aware, we may monitor email traffic data and content for
security and staff training. For further information about what we do with
your personal data, and your rights in relation to the
same, please see the [3]Privacy Notice published on our website
SGN is a registered trade mark and is the brand name for the companies
with this Scotia Gas Networks group of companies.
Scotia Gas Networks Limited (company registration number 04958135) and all
of its subsidiaries, except for Scotland Gas Networks plc are registered
in England and Wales and have their registered
office address at St Lawrence House, Station Approach, Horley, Surrey RH6
9HJ.
Scotland Gas Networks plc (company registration number SC264065) is
registered in Scotland and has its registered office address at Axis
House, 5 Lonehead Drive, Newbridge, Edinburgh EH28 8TG
References
Visible links
1. https://www.sgn.co.uk/help-and-advice/ex...
https://www.sgn.co.uk/help-and-advice/ex...
2. https://www.sgn.co.uk/privacy-policy
3. https://www.sgn.co.uk/privacy-policy
Classified as Internal
Good afternoon,
Thank you for your email.
I am pleased you have taken the time to contact us. I have forwarded your enquiry to be dealt with by your local depot who will be in touch with you shortly.
For any future correspondence, your reference number is CRM 2720464
If I can help with anything else, please let me know.
Regards
Robert Mann, Customer Service Advisor
Extra Help for those who need it
Stroma Suite, Grampian House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth PH1 3WU
Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @SGNgas
Smell gas? Call 0800 111 999
Dear Robert,
My request is specifically related to environmental emissions related to a known event. Please forward my request to Candice Campbell who is the Data Privacy Manager.
My SGN local depot will not be able to help.
Thank you,
James
Classified as Internal
Good morning James,
I have forwarded this information on to Candice now and she will be in touch with you shortly.
If you need anything else please let us know!
Many thanks,
Rebecca Graham, Customer Service Advisor
Talk to us on Live Chat or email [SGN request email]
Extra Help for those who need it
SGN, Stroma Suite, Grampian House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 3GH
Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @SGNgas
Classified as Internal
Good Afternoon
I am writing to confirm receipt of your Environmental Information Regulations request. We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible but no later than the 20 working day time limit.
Kind regards
Candice Campbell
Data Privacy Manager
E: [email address]
SGN, Fullarton House, 1 Fullarton Drive, Cambuslang, Glasgow G32 8FD
Please note my working days are: Tuesday – Friday (inclusive)
Dear SGN,
I would like to kindly remind you of your obligation to respond within 20 working days of receiving the original request.
Yours faithfully,
James Twallin
Classified as Internal
Good Afternoon
Please find attached our response to your Environmental Information Regulations request.
Kind regards
Data Protection Team
[email address]
Dear Scotia Gas Networks Limited,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to challenge your decision to withhold certain information under Regulation 12(5)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. You have declined to provide information regarding:
- The estimated mass of gas released into the atmosphere
- The specific reason why the pipe failed
- The number of public reports of gas leaks related to this incident
The information requested is factual in nature so how does disclosure prejudice any investigation? There is no subjective framing. I am asking for facts, nothing more. I would like you to specifically explain exactly how disclosure of factual information such as the volume of gas released could materially impact the ongoing investigation.
The incident occurred over 9 months ago, and given the significant scale and impact of this particular gas leak, there is substantial public interest in understanding its environmental impact and safety implications.
Furthermore, you have not clearly demonstrated how releasing this specific information would "prejudice the ongoing investigation and undermine the process and the jurisdiction of the external independent investigators" as claimed in your response.
I request that you reconsider the public interest test with specific regard to each piece of withheld information rather than applying what appears to be a blanket exemption. The exceptional nature of this incident makes transparency particularly important for public understanding and confidence.
Please be advised that if there is continued resistance to providing this information, I intend to refer this matter to the Information Commissioner's Office for review.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/g...
Yours faithfully,
James Twallin
Classified as Internal
Good Afternoon
We write to acknowledge receipt of your request for internal review with regards to the response SGN provided to you on 25 April 2025.
We will endeavour to provide you with a response as soon as possible, however no later than 20 working days.
Kind Regards
Rhona Thomson
Solicitor
E: [email address]
SGN, Legal Services, Fullarton House, 1 Fullarton Drive, Cambuslang, Glasgow, G32 8FD
sgn.co.uk
Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @SGNgas
Smell gas? Call 0800 111 999
Find out how to protect your home from carbon monoxide
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now