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Study underway for gas network in Fort William

Published: 05/06/2018

A study is underway in Fort William to find out if there is demand for a gas network in the area.

Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) is working in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Highland Council on behalf of the Scottish Government to conduct the study.

SGN has commissioned Explain Market Research to undertake the work.

Representatives from Explain will be in the area in June to find out more about the opinions of local people and businesses on bringing a gas network to the area. 

Door-to-door and street interviews will be carried out in Fort William over the next few weeks.  There will also be telephone interviews with businesses and stakeholders, and focus groups will be held with members of the public.

SGN manages the network that distributes natural and green gas to homes and businesses across Scotland and the south of England.

The timing of this study is driven by the opening of a new manufacturing plant in the area.

Liberty’s Aluminum division owns and operates the only remaining aluminum smelter in the UK – Liberty British Aluminum based in Fort William. Liberty is planning investment to build a factory to make alloy wheels. It could add 400 jobs to the 170 already working at the smelter.

Planning permission for the factory was granted at the end of January.

The opening of the Liberty Factory represents an opportunity to understand whether there is sufficient demand for a gas network in Fort William.

There are many ways to have your say on the subject:

Also look out for Explain market researchers operating in the area and make sure you have your say.

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