Fordbridge Park

Vegetation and tree clearance was undertaken by a small team in early 2022.

During main installation, you will see:

• Fencing through the park between the trenchless crossing installation areas. 
• The delivery of equipment, vehicles and materials. 
• The digging of a trench. 
• Open cut installation.

Access to the park will be available throughout installation, with local diversions and signage where footpaths cross the working area. 

Trees are scattered within the Order Limits, primarily within the northern part of the park and also partly in a line of a formal path that crosses the Order Limits. Tree species comprise primarily non-native ornamental species and a few native species, including Poplar, Silver Birch, Himalayan Birch, Lime, Damson, Crab Apple, False Acacia, Cherry, Purple leaf Plum, Leyland Cypress, Dawn Redwood, Horse Chestnut and Rowan.

We are using tried and tested techniques to work around tree roots through the park, including hand digging and use of air spades.

In addition, the project’s Environmental Clerk of Works and arboriculturalist will visit working areas to provide specialist advice when any works to trees, such as branch removal, are required.

We are using an open cut technique to install through Fordbridge Park between our two trenchless crossings, TC038 and TC039.

The open cut installation working area has been narrowed to a maximum 10m wide working area (from 30m). Ground protection will be used when crossing larger grassed areas to avoid topsoil stripping.

Once the open cut works are complete, each end will be connected to the trenchless crossing sections at the southeast and northwest corners of the park. 

Fabrication works, such as grinding, welding, coating and testing, will be undertaken behind screens or within shelters in order to reduce impacts on the users of the park. 

We completed our trenchless crossing under the Staines Reservoir Aqueduct and B377 Ashford Road (TC038) in winter 2022.

Now that installation is complete, the area has been fenced off and will be left in situ until the open cut section connecting the pipe to the trenchless section is concluded.

We have started preparation works for our trenchless crossing under the Staines Bypass A308, River Ash and Woodthorpe Road (TC039), at the northern end of the park.

The launch area will be situated in the northwest corner of the park adjacent to the Staines Bypass. There is one existing undesignated public path that crosses this area. This will be diverted for the duration of the works.

Once the trenchless section is complete, the area will be fenced off and left in situ until the open cut works connecting the pipe to the trenchless section are concluded.

Access to the southeast end of the park and to the drive area for TC038 is via the B377 Ashford Road access. 

In order to install the replacement pipeline we need access into the park from an existing road. In our planning permission (DCO), our access point into the north-eastern corner of the park was from Celia Crescent. However, upon the request of Spelthorne Borough Council, we applied for planning permission to use the existing access off Woodthorpe Road.  Permission has now been granted and we have made it suitable for construction vehicles.

We will access the open cut section from the south entrance and the north-west entrance off of Woodthorpe Road.

The access into the park and the access route within the park will be fenced for the duration of the works.

All work areas are fully secure with locked gates and 24-hour security. 

Reinstatement will be completed after installation in the next available season.

Where the topsoil has been stripped, it will be stored and replaced after the works have been completed and either turfed or seeded with an amenity mix specific to Fordbridge Park.

The vegetation will be subject to a five-year aftercare period to ensure it becomes established.

Like-for-like footpath surfacing will be used for reinstatement of paths crossed by the working area once the open cut works are complete, unless otherwise agreed between the project and Spelthorne Borough Council.