Application by National Grid Gas plc for the River Humber Gas Pipeline replacement (the application)

Transcription

1 Application by National Grid Gas plc for the River Humber Gas Pipeline replacement (the application) Examining Authority s (ExA) Record of Unaccompanied Inspection of Sites to Which the Application or Specified Matters Relates The Examining Inspector (ExA), Jeremy Aston undertook the inspections on 28 July 2015 starting at Goxhill at 10am and finishing at Paull at 5.00pm. The weather changed during the inspection. At 10am (Goxhill) it was overcast with light rain. The rain got slightly heavier until lunchtime but had ceased by 2pm. During this period visibility was limited to 1-2km. After 2pm the sky brightened and visibility improved to 6-10km. The inspections were undertaken by car and on foot on public roads and footpaths. A route was planned having regard to issues raised in relevant representations, enabling the ExA to obtain views of the proposed transport route to and from each site, a close up inspection of each construction area identified in the application documents [APP-09], views into each construction area from further afield and views across the SPA/SAC from Paull. The route of the inspection is identified on the attached plans which were extracted from the Initial Traffic Management Plan [APP-083]. The numbers in the table below refer to those marked on copies of the application plans thereby defining the route taken. Where additional numbers are indicated these refer to the proximity of each inspection location to either the position of traffic noise measurements (NML) [APP-064], viewsheds from the bird surveys (VP3), or ecological noise monitoring stations [APP-027] all of which are contained within the application Environmental Statement. No inspection was made at location 12A (Goxhill) during the initial visit but this was completed at 10.40am on the 8 September 2015 ahead of the Preliminary Meeting. Weather during this second visit was bright and dry with excellent long range visibility of 5-10km. Both the Goxhill and Paull construction compounds and the proposed transport routes were inspected for a second time on this visit. This was following receipt of the relevant representations and is the subject of an additional USV note published below. 1

2 Time Location (see attached plans) Description USV No 1-28 July 2015 GOXHILL INSPECTION 10AM-15:00pm Arrive via M180 then at Junction 5 take A15 north At Beaumontcote exit B1206 east towards Barrow on Humber Wold Road through Barrow on Humber. Noted S bend before Barrow and that it is otherwise largely straight College Road (farm field entrance). Inspect junction Return to junction then proceed along Wold Road to Goxhill Road 10:45 2 Inspect Goxhill Road Junction on foot. Goxhill Road towards Goxhill (not part of designated route in the initial Transport Management Plan) 11:00 3 Goxhill Road inspect junction with Thornton Road on foot. 11:15 4 & 5 Turn left along Thornton Road inspect road (with 5 parked cars on right) and note railway bridge which has road narrows sign and is located on a bend. 11:20 6 Continue along Ferry Road through village. Note S bend at Elm Lane, road narrowing and tight right then left bend with turning off to North End. Inspect road on foot. 11:30 7 Leave the village and continue into open countryside along single track lane. Noted road sign (bumpy/uneven road warning). Noted wide soft verge either side of road with hedges (where present) set back behind. Park in passing place near Riverside Lodge and exit car. 11:45 8 Continue along Ferry Road. Inspect end of Netgangs Lane. Noted lane reduces further in width at this point. 11:55 9 Continue along ferry Road to the 90 degree right bend into East Marsh Road. Inspect road and local area. Lady arrives in white van to walk x3 dogs in nearby field. 12:05 10 Noted that road surface up to this point fair/good however along East Marsh Lane after farm on left it deteriorates and wheel tracks are sunken. Park in farm entrance. Noted localised road edge damage and previous strip repairs to surfacing. 12:15 11 (NML4) Corner of proposed haul road parking near entrance to Fir Tree Farm. Noted that the final section of track leading to Goxhill site is badly potholed and rutted with large deep puddles. Noted that the road not suitable for a road car. Note overhead HV lines and pole transformer. Exit car to walk. 13:15 12 (VPD) Inspect site on foot along track. Note drainage ditch to right 3-4m deep. Noted Track in poor condition. Observed views across farmland to right and left. Noted ground is level, fields interspersed with farm hedges and bounded by drainage ditches. Observed the sea defence and pole transformer just outside site entrance. Return to car. Note site enclosed by mature hedgerow and palisade fencing. Observe grey power cabinet. Note that all fields surrounding site planted with arable crops. Observe NSIP notice displayed. 13:20 13 (NML2 & NML3) Chapel Field Road - Stopping at first farm on the right inspect views back over large field that will form the main construction compound. 13:25 14 & 15 (NML1) Continue along road and park on soft verge at entrance to drive of Chapel Farm. Inspect public footpath on foot past house and across next field to brook. Noted topography but farm field boundaries (hedges) limit views of the site and dense boundary noted to perimeter of Chapel Farm. 13:50 16 Chapel Field Road. Inspect area near Fishery and entrance to Airfield. Noted that airfield has warehouse and grain store sign. Noted new tarmac drive into airfield. Chapel lane widens at this point. 14:10 17 Continue along Chapel Lane. Noted narrowing of road for bridge over stream which then reduces to single lane with passing place sign. Observed NSIP notice regarding diversion hung on footpath sign at South End. Park at entrance to farm field. Exit car for view over field (diversion) and walk back to bridge/stream. 14:20 18 Continue along Church Side to Soff Lane and turn left into Soff Lane. Stop at industrial estate (other end of proposed diversion). Drive onto railway crossing. Inspect railway crossing on foot. View crossing sign. 14:25 19 Continue along end of Soff lane to T junction with College Road. Turn right 20 Stop on left in access drive to property. 21 & 22 Park on the left ahead of the T junction between College Road and Thornton Road turn into Thornton Road stopping on left near farm. Inspect junction on foot. Noted slight dip in College Road near junction. 14:45 23 Continue along Thornton Road, stopping on left ahead of Goxhill Road. 2

3 Inspect the junction on foot. 24 Return to College Road. Turn left into College Road from Thornton Road at T junction. Pass the starting point (see 1). Drive into Goxhill village to Spar shop via Goxhill Road. 15:00 After a short break drive the entire route from 6 through to 24 once again without stopping to get a feel for the route. Depart area at 3pm for Paull. 12A (VPC See separate USV note (below) following inspection in good weather on Ecological ahead of the Preliminary Meeting. Noise Monitoring 1) PAULL INSPECTION 15:30-17:00pm 15:25 1 Turn off Hull Road at roundabout and drive along Paull Road towards the village. Noted that Paull Road is a wide largely straight carriageway. 15:30 At T Junction turn right towards Paull. On entering village take first left Back Road through a residential area and into Thorngumbald Road passing site. Noted that the residential area has houses to left and right and cars parked on the highway. 15:35 3 (NML6) Inspect the AGI compound on foot including the site compound area to the north of the highway. Noted HP gas markers all along road edge lots of pipes exit into field. Noted some arable crop removed and trial pits evident. Visibility very good of the surrounding countryside. Inspected on foot the road to the Paull Strays Reserve car park. Noted notice that states that EA flood re-alignment scheme was completed in 2003, 7M. Note and enter the car park and then the reserve on foot. Walk up the steps of the tidal defences (25 No) and note marker posts in the field to the southeast for the pipeline route. 16:45 4 (VP2 & Ecological Noise Monitoring 3) North west along the path on top of the defence bund towards the Thorngumbald Drain EA station inspected. Noted Pole transformer to pump house and HV supply to AGI. Observed difference in levels between the seaward reserve and the site compound. Inspected the access track to the EA pumping station giving a close up view of the existing AGI. Noted that the AGI is on level ground behind sea defences. Noted Cottage opposite and Thorngumbald drain to that edge. 16:50 5 Thorngumbald Road, Back Road Town End Road, to village centre and village hall. All inspected. View the defence wall towards Goxhill and the Paull AGI. Good visibility. 17:00 2 Main Street end of Paull Road T Junction to 2 inspected. Noted that this is the proposed access route entrance to avoid the village, utilising the entrance to an existing farm. End of USV 1 3

4 Time Location (see attached plans) Description USV No 2-8 September 2015 GOXHILL INSPECTION 10.20AM-11:30pm Arrive at Thornton Road and park just before Barrow Road junction on left heading into Goxhill by 30mph sign Move forward and park on Thornton Road just after Barrow Road junction. Observe parked cars and vehicle movements At railway bridge which has road narrows sign and is located on a bend catch up with large HGV and follow to Netgangs Road. 6 Continue along Ferry Road through village. Note S bend at Elm Lane, road narrowing and tight right then left bend with turning off to North End. Observe passage of HGV and taxi. 7 Leave the village still following HGV and continue into open countryside along single track lane. 8 Continue along Ferry Road. HGV lorry turned off left into Netgangs Lane. Noted some recent patch repairs to holes in road. 9 Continue along Ferry Road to the 90 degree right bend into East Marsh Road Continue following route from USV 1 11 (NML4) & 12 (VPD) Travel along rutted and severely potholed track leading off tarmac highway past Goxhill AGI using 4x4. Large number of cars and people present continue past turning left towards river. 10:45 12A Travel to end of this lane passing fly tipping material arriving at the sea (flood) defence and edge of River Humber. Second AGI compound noted on left and access up onto sea defence and along sea defence wall. Exit car and walk along sea defence wall to tunnel/gas pipe alignment. Very few birds visible. 66% of arable crop removed from 3 rd field in (from sea defence located AGI) am most of the vehicles at the AGI (1km away) depart. Sea defence is grass covered with vehicle access (tracks) along top. Note difference in levels between mudflats and farmland. Take in views out across marsh and river to Paull. Paull Holme Strays and Humber Bridge clearly visible. Walk out along track to the river. Approximately 10-20m of mud visible as tide not quiet at high point. At waters edge no waders or birds in the water but note limited bird activity overhead. Can hear combine operating approximately 1km away. Rumble from docks and port area at Hull. Some bird song from farm fields audible. Return to car and head back along track to AGI. Note field on left (opposite AGI) has all arable crop removed (NML2 & Re-join Chapel Field Road and drive back towards Soff Lane diversion. NML3) Continue along Chapel Lane. Stop near narrowing of road for bridge over stream note fence panel replaced marking boundary to property on the corner (Littlecroft). Note that archaeological work underway in field of proposed Soff Lane diversion. 18 Continue along route of USV 1 19 Continue along route of USV 1 21 & 22 Continue along route of USV Continue along route of USV 1. Then leave and head to Hull. PAULL INSPECTION 15:30-16:30pm 15:30 1 Leave Hull drive past docks to turning for Paull. Drive towards village. 15:50 At T Junction turn right towards Paull. On entering village take first left Back Road through a residential area and into Thorngumbald Road passing site. All as USV1. 15:55 3 (NML6) Drive past the site to the bend to identify location of properties in this location. Return towards the site and turn left into Paul Holme Strays Reserve. Leave the car and walk up onto the sea defence wall. Look back to the Goxhill site. Excellent visibility. No significant bird activity evident. 3 RV vehicles and a car in the reserve car park. Return to car and leave the site. 16:30 5 Leave Paull the same route as USV1. End 4

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