Upheaval By Pipelines

by Hilary Ash, Hon. Conservation Officer

Members living outside the Bromborough - Eastham area may not have become aware of a planning application which bids to be the most disruptive to wildlife across Cheshire that I have seen in 21 years!

King Street Energy have applied to build a 58km double pipeline from the Mersey at Bromborough, through urban Eastham village, across the countryside outside Ellesmere Port, on across the Gowy Marshes (though avoiding our reserve) and down to just outside Northwich.

The pipeline would take water from the Mersey, use it to hollow out chambers in the rock salt beds, and return the brine via the second pipeline to the Mersey. Another gas pipeline would link the chambers to the gas grid at Warrington.

The purpose is to make storage for gas, which we now have to import as the North Sea beds are almost exhausted, to tide the nation over any disruptions to supply.

As you can imagine, the "carbon footprint" for such a scheme would be enormous.

I handled the objections for CWT to Wirral Borough, Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough, and to Cheshire County Council. Apart from unsustainable development, the objections included the destruction of large parts of a Site of Biological Importance at Frodsham to build a pumping station, the disruption of water voles on the Gowy, Ince and Helsby Marshes (a regionally-important population), interference with great crested newt terrestrial habitats, potential harmful effects on Warburton's Wood SSSI (and CWT nature reserve), and the unknown effects of all that brine on the River Mersey, especially New Ferry Shore SSSI, which is close to the outfall.

June 2008 Newsletter

All, that is, before anyone looks at the practicalities of getting twin 800mm pipelines under Long Plantation in Eastham Country Park, along part of New Chester Road, along Eastham Village Road and through Torr Park.

Of course, the argument in favour will be that the nation needs the gas storage. I understand that applications are in to use some of the empty gas field in the southern North Sea for the purpose, which sounds more practical as the infrastructure is already in place.

But we can all of us help  lessen the demand for gas, and fossil fuels in general, by reducing our own energy usage as much as we can. If you haven't done so already, you will find it beneficial to contact the Energy Saving Trust (0800 512012) or its local office, Energy Projects Plus (0151 639 9499).

River Mersey at Eastham. Photo: Laura Higginbottom