Belfairs Woods, Essex

Vegetation clearance over gas pipe

Cadent has been working with the local councils for Belfairs Woods over the past year regarding the essential work that needs to be completed to remove vegetation that has grown over the top of a gas pipe.  For safety reasons, trees, shrubs and buildings can not be built or left to grow on top of a gas pipe due to the potential damage or impact on the gas pipe. Cadent must ensure the safety and integrity of gas pipe that supplies to the local surrounding area.

Southend-on-Sea Council and Natural England consented to the work we needed to do earlier this year in March and April in part of Belfairs Woods.  Here we removed 3 trees and some shrubs.

We are awaiting consent from Castle Point Council regarding the work that needs to be completed in the area covered by Castle Point Council, along with any conditions related to the planning application to remove around 30 trees that have grown on top of the pipeline.

Once a decision has been made, we will be able to inform the local communities regarding the work.

Background

We cannot have anything growing or built on top of our gas pipes.  We do survey our pipelines on a regular basis and when we discover a building that has been built over a gas pipe or plants and trees that have grown on top of a pipe, we survey the pipe and decide what needs to happen for the integrity of the gas pipe.

Environmental and wildlife surveys have been completed and mitigating measures will be put in place, if needed, once a timescale has been agreed with all parties to complete the remaining vegetation clearance.

Tree Clearance Near Gas Pipelines

At Cadent, safety and environmental stewardship are at the core of our operations. To ensure the ongoing safety and reliability of our gas network, it is sometimes necessary to undertake tree clearance works when vegetation is growing in close proximity to our gas pipelines.

Trees and large vegetation near pipelines can pose several risks, including:

1. Root Intrusion: Tree roots can grow into and around buried pipelines, potentially causing damage or corrosion over time. This can compromise the integrity of the pipeline, leading to safety risks or service interruptions.
2. Access for Maintenance and Emergency Response: Our pipelines require clear and unhindered access for routine inspections, maintenance, and in rare cases, emergency repairs. Overgrown vegetation can impede these essential activities, delaying response times and increasing risks.
3. Ground Stability and Erosion: Trees and their root systems can alter ground stability, which may affect the surrounding soil structure and pipeline support. The removal of certain trees helps mitigate these risks and maintain pipeline integrity.

While these measures are necessary, we are committed to minimising the environmental impact of our work. To achieve this, we:

• Assess the need for tree clearance on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that only vegetation posing a direct risk to the pipeline is removed.
• Replant trees and vegetation in alternative areas whenever possible to offset the environmental impact.
• Collaborate with local environmental groups and stakeholders to develop tailored solutions that balance safety with environmental preservation.

In this instance we will be removing mainly brambles and weeds.  We are also going to remove some tree and in consultation with Belfairs Woods, Southend-on-Sea Council and Castle Point Borough Council we will replace these trees with 2 to 3 times more trees than we have removed.  We are talking with them about how many trees, types of trees and location they would like us to replace.

We understand the importance of protecting natural habitats and are dedicated to working transparently with our community partners to maintain a safe and sustainable gas network while supporting environmental conservation.