Ancient and modern: Ageing gas mains to be replaced near historic Whippendell Woodland

in your area

  • Cadent will be working in Grove Mill Lane and on bridal way in historic Whippendell Wood
  • Project will require temporary traffic lights and road closure with diversions in place and access maintained to ancient woodland
  • Essential project involves replacing ageing gas mains with tough new pipes which will help ensure safe and reliable local gas supplies until the dawn of the 22nd century 
Work is about to begin on an essential project to replace ageing gas mains in Watford’s Grove Mill Lane and historic Whippendell Wood.
 
Work is scheduled to start on Monday 24 June and two way traffic lights will be used to manage traffic flows until Monday 29 July. After that a road closure will be implemented on an 1162 metre stretch of Grove Mill Lane between the junctions with the A411 Hempstead Road and Fir Tree Hill (The Road) until Monday 12 August.
 
A diversion route will be in place via the A411 Hempstead Road, A41 (Hempstead Road/Watford Road) and Langleybury Lane.
 
The project will also involve working along a bridal way in the historical Whippendell Wood, but access will be maintained current users including hikers, dog-walkers, cyclists and horse riders
 
The project has been planned in close discussion with the local authorities and Cadent have also liaised closely with the woodland manager, local tree protection officer and Environment England, to ensure work is delivered with minimal disruption.
 
Local shops and businesses will remain open as usual throughout the project and gas supplies will also be maintained.
 
The project represents another chapter in the local vicinity’s rich heritage. Whippendell Wood is classified as ancient woodland, meaning it has been continuously wooded since 1600. Also classified as a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) the woods are home to a wide range of trees, fungi, invertebrates and animals including deer and woodpeckers. The woods are owned by Watford Borough Council and have been previously used as film locations for the likes of Holby City and Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
 
Cadent Authorising Engineer Dilbir Chana said: “Our essential project represents an exciting new chapter for Whippendell Wood and the surrounding area.
 
“The existing gas mains have served the area well for many years but the time has come to replace them to help ensure the local community keep on enjoying safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating.”
 
He added: “We’re very mindful of the fact that we’ll be surrounded by ancient woodland and we’ll be treading very carefully to ensure our work causes as little disruption as possible and that work sites are remediated to their previous or better condition.”
 
“Replacing the gas mains will reduce the risk of future disruption caused by leaks from old pipes and will help ensure local people have safe and reliable gas supplies until the dawn of the 22nd century.”
 
Cadent will do all it can to deliver the work with as little disruption as possible.
 
If anyone has any questions about the work they call 0800 0965675 for more information.
 
This work is part of Cadent’s ongoing investment across its network to replace and upgrade old gas mains with safer and more durable modern pipes.
 
 
ENDS
 

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