Anglian Water Pipeline

[steveR]

We had a big gas pipeline put through the middle of the farm in the 60's, followed by Wessex Water in the 1980's (That was also Docwra). The water pipe was then relined in about 2012 the contractor was Daniels.
I can only echo all of the advice given above. Don't give them even a millimetre. Get the smoothest slickest most ruthless agent possible to work for you, it helps if several of you along the pipeline have the same guy, and through them claim every thing you possibly can, and don't be kind with your rates.
The compo from our last encounter bought our KV TineSeeder!

Dunno what level of damage/work your compo was for, but I am still dealing with the damge caused from a massive sewer put through in the early 70s. The last 25 years, it has been "set-aside" of one sort or another! The area still can't be farmed as the soil structure is totalled. I might try again as BPS goes...

 

[Lakesdigger]

Dunno what level of damage/work your compo was for, but I am still dealing with the damge caused from a massive sewer put through in the early 70s. The last 25 years, it has been "set-aside" of one sort or another! The area still can't be farmed as the soil structure is totalled. I might try again as BPS goes...

You can't put the subsoil back together like 1000s of years has it before so it will never be like it was before for a very very long time.

 

[steveR]

You can't put the subsoil back together like 1000s of years has it before so it will never be like it was before for a very very long time.

So true...

I still recall getting a mate in with a digger to pop in some drains, even though it had all been drained with a pipelayer 8-10 years after the job was completed. He ran a trench through a wet area and we found a perf plastic with stone to plough depth, and the water could not travel a foot sideways....

 

[Old apprentice]

Dunno what level of damage/work your compo was for, but I am still dealing with the damge caused from a massive sewer put through in the early 70s. The last 25 years, it has been "set-aside" of one sort or another! The area still can't be farmed as the soil structure is totalled. I might try again as BPS goes...

Did they bury the top soil then youl have sub on top!

 

[robs1]

We have had an electric line several railway jobs, a new road a new water main another moved after the original one kept bursting and a sewer, the last three by wessex water which are the biggest bunch of pansies in the world.

 

[sahara]

We have had an electric line several railway jobs, a new road a new water main another moved after the original one kept bursting and a sewer, the last three by wessex water which are the biggest bunch of pansies in the world.

Crikey, sounds like we got off very lightly!

 

[steveR]

Did they bury the top soil then youl have sub on top!

All manner of stupidity... it is top soil on top... msotly

The biggest problem was the trench was excavated with drop graders and reinstated the same way, with soil being bunded 1/2 mile or more away, then BFO graders bringing the spoil and then soil, back again. The word compaction, does not really do the damage caused, justice.

 

[marcot]

Anyone else got the joy of Anglian water putting a new water pipeline through their farm , its running from Grantham to Colchester .
They want to start digging trial trenches this month!

Yes the same pipeline is coming through here ...almost 1km run at 40m wide !
Archaeological trenches due to start tomorrow....im dreading the mess

 

[steveR]

We have had an electric line several railway jobs, a new road a new water main another moved after the original one kept bursting and a sewer, the last three by wessex water which are the biggest bunch of pansies in the world.

Kerrrist, I thought we were bad with services!

 

[robs1]

Crikey, sounds like we got off very lightly!

It's one of the downsides of living near towns, I forgot we had the national line refurbished too and that must be due again in 2023, they were very good.
While it can be a pain living here there are lots of people who want to spend money either through our equestrian business or industrial units both of which make producing actual food look pretty stupid

 

[steveR]

Yes the same pipeline is coming through here ...almost 1km run at 40m wide !
Archaeological trenches due to start tomorrow....im dreading the mess

"trenches".... mid January.....? Who organised that little venture??

 

[marcot]

"trenches".... mid January.....? Who organised that little venture??

They served notice ...I didn't think I had an option to delay the work?
My agent certainly hasn't said anything about being able to delay ..

 

[marcot]

They served notice ...I didn't think I had an option to delay the work?
My agent certainly hasn't said anything about being able to delay ..

"trenches".... mid January.....? Who organised that little venture??

I've got a site meeting first thing tomorrow before they start i will mention it then

 

[steveR]

They served notice ...I didn't think I had an option to delay the work?
My agent certainly hasn't said anything about being able to delay ..

Bloody stupid timing though!

 

[Against_the_grain]

So has anyone had compensation yet? At what point was this discussed. I'm not totally against the pipe as the land it runs through is poor set aside land anyway, its just I find it strange that they are organising surveys/test plots as if it's all going ahead when we haven't even given permission yet. I wonder because its a water pipe they have statutory powers to do what they want? In previous situations i have ben involved with for power lines etc the terms are negotiated up front.

 

[Lakesdigger]

One of the biggest losers right at the start of the job when they strip the easement is taking the topsoil off and 6/8 inch of subsoil with it. There's you're topsoil fuc*ed on day one.

 

[Heathland]

The wash outs and air valves SHOULD have been clearly shown on the original plan accompanying the Statutory Notice - and their position discussed and agreed with you.
Please tell me that they DID serve a Notice before work started - 3 months if I remember correctly.
Please also tell me that they did not work on your land during winter months.
As others have said, get a good agent and keep a comprehensive diary.

In my day the majority of water company surveyors were professional and tried their best to prevent the worst excesses of contractors. I fear that these days so much of that work has been outsourced and many ‘surveyors’ have no experience of cross country pipelines.

Perhaps I should come out of retirement…………?

The amout of vents etc,that's what a lot of land owners on this leg were upset about,it was ridiculous the amount they want to install, especially in the middle of fields,AW went away and had a rethink,anyway they did get rid of a lot or placed them on the edge or in the hedge lines,bit of common sense,but it was like getting blood from a stone.
To be fair now AW have got a decent land agent running the job someone who you can talk too,and in plain English,but its taken them a long time.
I have a land agent covering my back, AW have served all the correct notices,well nearly all.

I did let them in early, and they did pay extra for that privilege.
Luckily been on heathland its very free draining so they haven't had too many issues with water or rain.
God its been painful tho,trouble is they can only go as fast as the slowest landowner cooperates.
We all now just wish they would reinstate and p*ss off.
We have been paid compensation for last years trial plots,also part land value,but not yet for last years crop loss,haven't pushed that yet as I haven't sold any wheat yet!££££

 

[Heathland]

One of the biggest losers right at the start of the job when they strip the easement is taking the topsoil off and 6/8 inch of subsoil with it. There's you're topsoil fuc*ed on day one.

I cannot complain yet,they are very careful, taking topsoil off,pushing to one side then they are going 10-12" further down pushing that to the other side.
Couple of neighbours have had a full on survey done hoping to get compensation,through recking the substructure/ organic matter.

 

[Oliveau]

Refuse them permission to come on your property, in writing.

They can serve you with a legal notice (probably) but that costs time and money, and they will still have to pay your Agents fees and compo, when/if they come on. Bill them for your time too...

The correct procedure is for the utility to serve you a Statutory Notice under the WIA 1991, and you are entitled to 3 months before they can enter to construct. Additionally they should serve Survey Notices (shorter notice period) for Eco surveys, trial holes etc. They may offer you an ‘early entry payment’ (I never called it that, but ‘Compensation for forgoing the Statutory Notice period’ In any case, if early entry means starting construction in the winter, REFUSE IT,

 

[Oliveau]

You must have been in the business long ago!

1992 to 2006 after 25 years in farming - Good grief, looking back God was still a boy!