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 | | Sunday, 9 September, 2001, 10:25 GMT 11:25 UK 'More time' for gas pipe work  Four people died in the Larkhall explosion Gas supply company Transco is urging the government to extend the deadline for a pipe replacement programme - despite safety experts warning that it could cost lives. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reported to be on the verge of agreeing to extend to the 25 year time limit which has been placed on the work because of the cost involved. But the move has been condemned by the Scottish National Party, which is calling for an inquiry. A report in the Sunday Times newspaper suggests that Transco wants 35 years to replace thousands of corroding iron gas mains.
These included a blast which killed two people in Dundee last year, and an explosion in Larkhall in 1999 in which a family of four died. After the 1999 Lanarkshire tragedy the Health and Safety Executive decided that Transco should replace more than 90,000 kilometres of gas pipes within 25 years. But it is believed that the HSE is now on the brink of agreeing a compromise 30-year deal following strong lobbying by Transco on cost grounds. This, it is claimed, is despite the watchdog's own experts admitting that they would not be surprised if a small number of people were to be killed before the replacement programme is completed. The SNP's environment spokesman Bruce Crawford has called for a formal inquiry into the issue. | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Scotland stories now:  Links to more Scotland stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||
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