Walpole Island band council discussing the natural gas expansion at the library. August 10, 2016. (Photo by Natalia Vega)Walpole Island band council discussing the natural gas expansion at the library. August 10, 2016. (Photo by Natalia Vega)
Chatham

Natural Gas Coming To Walpole Island

Construction on a natural gas pipeline is moving ahead on Walpole Island.

That's despite protests on the First Nation earlier this week, which prevented the work from going ahead.

Union Gas spokesperson Andrea Stass says those protests appear to have been sparked by some misinformation.

"The chief and council did meet with some of the protesters yesterday [Tuesday]," says Stass. "We understand that there was a belief that providing gas service to the community meant that Union Gas had some rights to the land, which we want to clarify we do not."

Stass says their workers are simply acting as guests on the land providing a service.

"That doesn't give us the right to take any resources from the land nor are we in the business of doing that," says Stass. "We also cannot move any other product other than gas through those pipelines."

According to Stass, construction started up again Wednesday morning with a police escort on site to make sure citizens don't risk their safety or the safety of the workers.

The first phase of the project is expected to take a couple of months to complete and will only provide natural gas to community buildings and a few homes on the main roads.

Stass says representatives from the First Nation have been asking for access to natural gas service for years.

RELATED: Walpole Island Makes Final Decision On Natural Gas

Read More Local Stories

Hudson Motorcycles presents cheque to Chatham-Kent Hospice (Image courtesy of Hudson Motorcycles)

Second annual Hudson Hospice ATV Ride Day nets over $4,300 for charity

Hudson Motorcycles and the Chatham-Kent ATV club teamed up to raise money for the Chatham-Kent Hospice.

A double honour for the Windsor Spitfires

A Windsor Spitfires forward and a goaltender have earned top honours in the OHL this week.

Warm fall photo by Csaba Toth. iStock / Getty Images Plus

Cooler, more seasonal weather on the way

Temperatures climbed to near record highs in some parts of the province Monday.

Layout, interior, and exterior of 'Cabin-style' transitional units (Image captured from presentation made to Chatham-Kent Council)

UPDATE: CK Council approves new contractor for tiny cabins project

The transitional cabins proposal for the homeless in Chatham-Kent is going to cost more because the original contractor can no longer take on the project.

Ice hockey refree. Photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Modestil

Scoreboard, Oct 22

William Nylander had two goals and an assist in the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning Monday night.

CK council approves moving forward on community hub project

A separate motion to hold a referendum on whether the project should move forward was not discussed due to council’s 11 p.m. curfew.