Allowing Thames Water Access for Adjacent Treatment Plant Works. Rights / Charges etc

[Robert]

We own land adjacent to a Thames Water sewage treatment plant works and they have approached us asking whether they could lay 150 metres of temporary access track down the side of the field so they can get a crane to work over the fence to the otherwise inaccessible rear section of their site.

Do they have any given right to do this or is it a private negotiation surrounding damage reinstatement? Meanwhile is there scope to be reasonably commercial in requesting remuneration for this 'service'?

Thanks

 

[betweenthelines]

Charge what you like, they'll go bust before you get a penny.

 

[goodevans]

Get paid and get them to use the planks they use when delivering sewage as oposed to removing topsoil and stoning

 

[Goweresque]

I'd say if its purely to access a part of their own site that they can't via their own access points (which is their fault for designing it poorly) then its not covered by their statutory powers. They aren't coming on to your land to repair their pipes, or install new ones (which would be covered by statutory powers), its just to make their life easier on their own site. As such I'd say you are entitled to either refuse entirely, or demand what you like and tell them to go take a hike if they don't like it.

 

[Netherfield]

Charge what you like, they'll go bust before you get a penny.

If you allow it you get the money first and a time frame for completion with penalties if it runs over.

 

[Wooly]

Negotiate a fee................ but don't except a cheque from Thames Water......only cash or BACS before they arrive !

 

[nick...]

Good luck.these huge companies just walk over everyone and take the pee.I'd just be a nuisance to them if I was you
nick...

 

[puppet]

I doubt they have a right of access on your field and if you have no idea of what to charge then speak to an agent. If you are a novice then be very wary of dealing with utilities on your own. Everything in writing as you will find conversations never happened.
The cost of renting the ground, reinstating damage when laying and lifting the road, compaction from a heavy crane, potential of damaged drains, type of fencing and gates and checking to ensure stock cannot get out every night. Someone will come up with more.
Payment up front is mandatory at least for a significant %.
Gas pipe we got 50% when signed then 25% when fences went up.

 

[nick...]

If they are anything like national grid they will do as they please.I'm getting a lot of land ruined and they say they will only pay for crop losses and not soil damage .
nick...

 

[grainboy]

Tell them to get a bigger crane,

 

[Flatlander]

I’m dealing with an energy company here that has gas pipes under part of my farm. Apparently ive dug too deep while ditching and their pipe has insufficient soil cover for safety. f**kers drove thru wheat last year and filled in the ditch backing up water that’s flooded part of a field. They wouldn’t even answer the phone until I left a message saying I was going to remove the soil. Two agents drove 12 hours from Alberta to come talk. Still on going but they looked pretty nervous when they saw the digger parked by the ditch when having a site meeting.
in your case I’d go with no access until fully paid with extra addd on for the mess they’ll most likely leave behind. Definitely no top soil moving and hardcore brought in. They can find big aluminum planks to put a roadway down easy enough. If you don’t like the way they are trying to negotiate,walk away.

 

[robs1]

We've just had a rail job finished here, aluminium tracks are far better than moving soil and will take lorries etc easily, ours was about 350 meters and was £500 a week payment for set number of weeks( which you need to find out before anything ) upfront before allowing entrance and so much extra per week for any over run, plus they pay you for reseeding etc .
Wessex water have just approached me to do some work in two fields, they are barstewards to deal with

 

[Robert]

We've just had a rail job finished here, aluminium tracks are far better than moving soil and will take lorries etc easily, ours was about 350 meters and was £500 a week payment for set number of weeks( which you need to find out before anything ) upfront before allowing entrance and so much extra per week for any over run, plus they pay you for reseeding etc .
Wessex water have just approached me to do some work in two fields, they are barstewards to deal with

Many thanks for this helpful steer