ESSO PIPELINE PROJECT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Several Forum members attended the ESSO consultation exhibition held in Byfleet on Tuesday 27th March and discussed a number of questions posed by the community.  These are set out below as a set of Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why are alternative routes being considered when the corridor J follows a great deal of the original pipeline through land where planning precedents already exist, and landowners are well known?
   Answer – the northern route J is preferred by ESSO but there are issues arising as a result of housing development around Farnborough and Frimley since the original pipeline was built in 60’s and 70’s.
2. What is the length of the old pipeline and what is the likely length of the new alternative route through corridor M/Q?                                                                                                                     Answer – Corridor J is 8km longer than corridor M and 6km longer than corridor Q probably because M & Q wind rather more than J. 
3. How deep is the pipeline buried?
   Answer – the pipeline will be laid underground and be a minimum of 1m below the surface.  It is made of steel and 30cm in diameter
4. Is this aviation fuel pipeline designed to augment, or replace, the existing pipeline?
   Answer – The planned pipeline is a REPLACEMENT for the existing one.  The old pipeline has now reached the end of its’ economic life and cannot economically be upgraded.  Once complete the old pipeline will be decommissioned.  The old pipeline will be plugged and filled but remain in place.
5. What are the plans to minimise damage / destruction?
   Answer – Where there are important trees, the pipeline route would be tunnelled about 1m below the surface (most significant tree roots are in the top 60cm).
6. What are the plans for remediation after construction?
   Answer – Standards and best practice will be complied with. This normally means reinstatement to the same state or to a higher standard than found originally.
7. This pipeline carries volatile aviation fuel.  What is the safety record of such pipelines and what are the key safety measures for such pipeline traversing both farmland and residential area?
   Answer – The safety record of these type of pipelines is exceptionally high and heavily regulated by national safety standards and best practice.
8. Recently, MacFarlane’s found it very difficult to lay a new 33kv electricity cable along Pyrford Road because they found the ground already overburdened with a multiplicity of gas, water, electricity and fibre optic cables. Why is such a problematic and expensive route being considered for the ESSO pipeline through Pyrford?
   Answer – ESSO were unaware of the MacFarlane experience and that the consultation was designed to flush out such potential difficulties.  Corridor J was confirmed as slightly preferable to corridor M/Q through Pyrford.  
9. Why isn’t corridor M/Q mapped across Twisted Stone Golf Course?
   Answer – The Twisted Stone Golf Course is prone to flooding.   This is likely to make trenching more difficult.
10. Why weren’t the local community or Neighbourhood Forum consulted before the consultation was announced?
    Answer – ESSO were not ready to talk to local groups before this round of consultation events.  WBC were consulted but were not made aware of the Forums.   Had PNF been a Parish Council, we would have been automatically informed.
11. Has the Pyrford Neighbourhood Plan been consulted?
    Answer – The ESSO representative believed the Plan had been read but nobody was available to discuss it. 
12. Are ESSO aware that corridor M/Q intersects two conservation areas, one area of irreplaceable ancient woodland and includes 24 nationally and locally listed buildings?
    Answer – Indicated ESSO were not aware but explained that the pipeline would be routed to avoid impacting such assets and any damage incurred would be repaired
13. Is ESSO aware of the importance of the Pyrford Escarpment in the local and boroughwide community?  NB Pyrford Escarpment is officially designated as Rising Land of Landscape Importance?
    Answer – The recreational value of the Escarpment, the common and all the local footpaths and bridleways appeared to be news to the ESSO representative with which this was discussed. 

Geoff Geaves – Chairman Pyrford Neighbourhood Forum

16 April 2018