Major disruption is continuing in Nyetimber, five days after a car crashed into a gas substation and forced dozens of residents from their homes.
The collision, which happened in the early hours of Monday morning, caused extensive damage to the substation and raised immediate fears over the stability of the gas network in the area.
Emergency services, including fire crews, police and engineers, were quickly deployed to assess the situation. Because of the potential for a gas leak and the risk of an explosion, officers made the decision to evacuate nearby homes as a precaution. Residents living closest to the site were told to leave immediately, many of them still in their nightclothes, and were taken to safety while the area was secured.
Residents were kept out of their homes for around 36 hours while engineers carried out detailed inspections and worked to stabilise the damaged equipment. Temporary accommodation was arranged for those who needed it, and others stayed with family or friends.
Pagham Road, which runs alongside the substation, remains closed and is now expected to stay shut until the 19th of December. Southern Gas Networks has been carrying out repair work throughout the week.
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