Gas leak in Tontine Street, Folkestone, prompts huge emergency response and shuts road
Published: 12:19, 05 May 2024
Updated: 10:02, 07 May 2024
A road was shut for hours after a gas leak prompted action from emergency services.
Police, ambulance, and fire crews all attended the incident in Tontine Street, Folkestone by 11.30am today (May 5).
They were called to deal with a gas leak that was reported outside The Buoy Belgian Bar.
On Facebook, resident Stephanie Jay Fox said: “I reported the smell of gas in my building before I left this morning.”
Bus company Stagecoach confirmed its services were affected by the temporary closure.
Dover-bound services which use the route were diverted via The Health Centre and Grove Road, the operator said.
Towards Folkestone, buses were taking Canterbury Road and Black Bull Road as diversions.
All crews have since left the area and the road was reopened again by 12.30pm.
Waseem Hanif, spokesperson for gas distribution company SGN, said on Sunday: "Earlier today, we carried out repairs to a meter box damaged by a third party in Tontine Street, Folkestone.
“The road was closed by the emergency services for safety.
“Our repairs are now complete and the road has been reopened. Our engineers remain on site to ventilate any residual gas from the affected property."
A fire spokesman said: “Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a ruptured gas pipe outside of a building on Tontine Street, Folkestone.
“After investigation, assistance of crews was not required and duty of care was left with a specialist gas team. There were no reported injuries.”
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Ben Austin