AGGRIEVED Trowbridge resident David Smith says work carried out by Wales & West Utilities on his property as part of gas main replacement work has been a “complete mess” from start to finish.

The 86-year-old, who lives in Carisbrooke Crescent, claims the problems started in March when the company sent a letter to the wrong address explaining that its contractors would be undertaking essential work.

It was sent next door, a bungalow built by Mr Smith with full planning consent in 2000 for his son Karl, despite the fact he is not a gas consumer.

The error meant Mr Smith first found out about the work when he returned home in April to find two men in his backyard, the first in a series of issues that have rumbled on ever since.

“I came home and found these men in the back of my premises. They must have climbed over my security chain and when I asked them what they were doing they said they were replacing the gas pipe to make it safe,” said Mr Smith.

Mr Smith was offered £20 to compensate for the fact that the company failed to give him five days notice prior to the intended works, but he complained again when he realised the work was not up to standard.

He said: “They had taken out the spoil and rubble from the ground but they had not put half of it back, which would have resulted in the paving blocks sinking into the ground.

“Two more men came and I was happy with what they did. However, I then realised that the pipe in my son’s property was not deep enough.

“It has been a completely mess from start to finish. They have had three goes at it and everything they have done they have had to have a second go at. Why they couldn’t have just sent someone to assess it and speak to me in the first place I don’t know.”

The work carried out on Mr Smith’s land is part of ongoing work in Wyke Road by Wales & West Utilities, which is replacing old metallic gas pipes.

Mr Smith was offered a further goodwill payment of £75 but he wants the pipe moved and put in the ground at the correct depth.

A Wales & West Utilities spokesman said: “In May 2015, we started work replacing the gas pipe that we thought served Mr Smith’s home. This involved us digging a hole on his land. Due to an oversight, we had not written to Mr Smith beforehand. We apologised, and compensated him as per our statutory guidelines which Mr Smith accepted.

“We found the gas service pipe serving Mr Smith’s home had in fact been moved when the bungalow adjacent to his house and occupied by his son had been built. As it was plastic, it did not need to be replaced. During our work, we also found that Mr Smith’s gas meter was not secured to the ground and instead held in place by the gas pipes that fed it. One of our specialist contractors fitted a bracket to secure the meter.

“Following this Mr Smith asked that we did not fill in the hole we had dug on his land, as he wanted us to move the service pipe that supplied his home – free of charge. The service pipe is in a safe location, and any relocation of the pipe would be chargeable to Mr Smith as the homeowner. At his request, we temporarily left our excavation safe and surrounded with barriers. However, with his agreement, this hole has now been filled in.

“While 375mm is the recommended depth for a gas pipe on private land, it is a guide, and does not take into account landscaping and ground movement after the laying of the pipe. There does also appear to have been some excavation over the gas pipe – which has not been carried out by Wales & West Utilities.

“Mr Smith’s complaints have been reviewed at the highest level. Additional to the statutory compensation following an oversight in notifying Mr Smith about the work and the work we carried out on his meter, we have offered a goodwill gesture payment of £75. However, we do not intend to move the service pipe that Mr Smith would like us to move without payment, as we are satisfied that its location is safe."