Anglian Water has now decided to create working compounds at both ends of the Etton Maxey reserve – sparking fears about the longer term damage to the site.
Langdyke trustee David Cowcill, who heads the team which looks after the reserve, has been in negotiations with Anglian Water and sets out his thoughts below …
He has predicted the likely scenarios, including:
- the creation of a compound
- large lengths of pipeline (pictured, above)
- and hedgerows and trees being ripped out (pictured, below)
David reports: “To avoid temporarily cutting off Maxey from the East, AW’s plans for the Maxey Road have changed to now propose a ‘Trenchless Crossing’.
“The effect on the reserve is to require a large drill-receiving working compound (a similar one is pictured below) not only in the South East corner for Maxey Cut crossing but now in the North East corner too for the Maxey Road crossing. In addition the pipe has to be prepared “above ground” taking up further space adjacent to Main Road and the hedgerow – possibly with only a short gap in the middle for access (details still being negotiated).
“In Langdyke landscape and nature care terms the AW working methods are quite brutal – perhaps no surprise with 95kms of work and countless crossings to create.
“Whilst adequate mitigations have been agreed for the rare and vulnerable species on the reserve (at the insistence of Peterborough City Council officers), we cannot influence the reality of the work, its visual impact, and the interruption of the generally uplifting experience when visiting the reserve.
“The work will soon begin (May latest) at the south end with ‘preparatory works’ to prepare the tunnelling base, and mitigation work to support the continued presence of rare four-spotted moths
- More information about the work here
