Powergrid caused extra damage.....how to deal with correctly?

[Overby]

Morning.

Our local powergrid needed to get into 2 of our fields to fit a new line for an adjacent housing development.
We get on fine with the developers and got it all sorted legally etc. The agreement was for them to travel up the fenceline, creating minimal damage, however, they have gone way over the agreed area and have caused major damage and crop loss.

Obviously the weather last winter was horrendous, but they never asked us if they could expand their access and they have ruined 6 acres of what was a lovely 3 year established AB8 grass. It's now a rock hard, bare patch of soil.
They've done the same in the adjacent field, churning up 1.5 acres and leaving it a wet. boggy mess that you can't even drive over. It was previously nice, flat arable land with a crop of AB9 on it.

Any ideas on compo to correct this? It's not just a wheel mark slipping off a track, this is approaching 8 acres of land ruined, and associated crops obliterated.

I've got a meeting with them to sort it out in 2 weeks and am currently so bloody annoyed I want to ask them for as much redress as possible, you'd all agree if you saw the mess they've made / left.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

 

[Timbo]

This is a job for your trusted agent, not yourself.

 

[Overby]

He's waiting in the wings, i was wondering if anyone had any ball park ideas.

They've ruined 3 years of establishment on the AB8, not to mention the impaction on what was a regenerating, no till, grassland soil. Ditto the AB9 bit, compacted and rutted to oblivion, plus the now missing crop

 

[Timbo]

He's waiting in the wings, i was wondering if anyone had any ball park ideas.

They've ruined 3 years of establishment on the AB8, not to mention the impaction on what was a regenerating, no till, grassland soil. Ditto the AB9 bit, compacted and rutted to oblivion, plus the now missing crop

You are far far far better taking agents advice than any (despite several knowledgeable people on here) - this matter should be kept professional and not on a public forum.

 

[Netherfield]

You did it wrong in the first place, should have had Agent or Legals sorting the initial agreement, and made the other party pay for all of this.

 

[upnortheast]

Time was Powergrid wayleaves guy in this area was good to deal with He had a small farm so knew the job.
Now they employ on of the big land agent companies so best hire an agent to deal with it. They should pay his fees.

 

[Timbo]

You did it wrong in the first place, should have had Agent or Legals sorting the initial agreement, and made the other party pay for all of this.

200%

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Just get a good land agent to sort it, got one on now doing similar

 

[Matt]

What ever you get paid it will be pittance to them.
maybe a good place to start for justification is, what would that 'crop' be it stewardship have earnt you. As if you are not fulfilling that obligation they will need to foot that bill and any claims from rpa that may arise.

then cost of re instatement. ect



but get agent, dont be going for the minimum.

 

[Sam Partridge]

It should cover all costs to get it back to the state it was in before (including an estimate goin gback several years if that is what it has taken to get it into good condition) and any monies lost from schemes etc. Compensation over and above that for 'mental anguish' or 'personal stress' is unnecessary IMO. Thats what has led to a culture of suing and litigation in this country. At what point did you realise it had got out of hand? Surely it didn't happen overnight??

 

[Universe]

Good land agent. They pay their costs too. The correct agent, the better the return for what could take years to return from seriously deep ruts/compaction.

 

[steveR]

Good land agent. They pay their costs too. The correct agent, the better the return for what could take years to return from seriously deep ruts/compaction.

This 110%.

Do not underestimate the future losses from the damage that has been caused. Again, your Agent should consider this aspect, but do remind him/her...

Hope you have lots of pics from the "before" condition.

 

[beef 1]

Good land agent. They pay their costs too. The correct agent, the better the return for what could take years to return from seriously deep ruts/compaction.

def

 

[nick...]

We have national grid hoping to put 3 pylons across our land.about 25 acres will be absolutely destroyed (soil damage) from what I seen on plans.all in ab15 and I'm told they will pay the same as we get for ab15 and no more.they won't pay nothing for soil damage and keep saying we will never see no difference when they done.
load of barstewards the lot of em.
nick...

 

[Universe]

Severe compaction can take 5 yrs to completely recover, so a sliding scale of recovery costs during that period could be the aim... (hint).
You tell them in writing (agent) what is likely to happen if they insist on proceeding, shed loads of photos before, after & during are really important, and then leave them to it. Your hands are tied in that whatever you say, rarely will they listen, and so just stand by and watch the carnage (while taking photos). Did I push the photo taking enough...

 

[steveR]

Severe compaction can take 5 yrs to completely recover, so a sliding scale of recovery costs during that period could be the aim... (hint).
You tell them in writing (agent) what is likely to happen if they insist on proceeding, shed loads of photos before, after & during are really important, and then leave them to it. Your hands are tied in that whatever you say, rarely will they listen, and so just stand by and watch the carnage (while taking photos). Did I push the photo taking enough...

And the rest...... Still dealing with it here, 50 years later!!! Two massive sewer pipelines. If we were allowed, I'd just plant trees on them!

Photos are a wonderful thing. I used to have a dedicated digital camera, but now carry a camera phone like everyone. There are apps that allow you to tag with a GPS location, time and date which might be useful....

 

[Northern territory]

Don’t get to excited, took us 3 years to agree and it wasn’t a great deal of money in the end.

 

[Danllan]

And the rest...... Still dealing with it here, 50 years later!!! Two massive sewer pipelines. If we were allowed, I'd just plant trees on them!...

Put some bonsai on there, that'll learn the barstads...

 

[steveR]

Put some bonsai on there, that'll learn the barstads...

Well, I have had in one form or another of "setaside" since the 80s, so that is what I have in some ways, but I keep topping the ash and scrub off.

 

[puppet]

We have national grid hoping to put 3 pylons across our land.about 25 acres will be absolutely destroyed (soil damage) from what I seen on plans.all in ab15 and I'm told they will pay the same as we get for ab15 and no more.they won't pay nothing for soil damage and keep saying we will never see no difference when they done.
load of barstewards the lot of em.
nick...

How can 3 pylons destroy 25 acres? We had 1000m of gas pipes took up only 10 acres.
If there is no compensation for soil damage you need a new agent. Crop loss, reinstatement, dust contamination, checking gates every night, extra time getting across the working area, loss of awkward field corners as a start.