Queen Elizabeth Park

During installation you will see:  

• Heras-type fencing, or strong-wall fencing securing the working area.  
• Equipment, vehicles and materials will be delivered to the working area.  
• Deliveries of the steel pipe, which will be brought to site in a ‘just-in-time’ delivery sequencing throughout works.  
• Stringing and welding of the pipe.  
• The digging of the trench for the open cut section. 
• Installation of the replacement pipeline.
• 24-hour security of the working areas within the park. 

To reduce disruption to the park, our route largely follows the southern cycle/pedestrian path. This means use of the path will be suspended during our open cut works.

Access to the rest of the park will be maintained for pedestrians.

Parking at the Cabrol Road car park has been suspended whilst the construction compound is in use. The northern A325 car park will remain open throughout works. 

We have removed the original play area to make space for our construction compound at Cabrol Road car park.

Before removing the original play area, a temporary alternative play area was installed in the north of the park. Planning consent was granted for the temporary play area by Rushmoor Borough Council in January 2022.

Once we have completed installation works in the park, we will replace the original play area with new equipment. We will consult the community on our proposals for the new play area. We have also offered to leave the alternative play area in place, even after the original play area is reinstated, should the community and Rushmoor Borough Council wish to keep it.

The original play area will be reinstated once the works in the park are completed.

The local landscape character of the Order Limits that pass through the park comprises informal paths within amenity grassland shrubs beneath mature trees to the north, and a denser woodland area with dense rhododendron and secondary tree growth and a formal cycle/pedestrian path to the south.

Any necessary vegetation clearance works has already taken place. During the clearance works, signage was placed within the park to notify park users.

Our team have completed tree surveys within the park. Our engineers are confident that installation will not require the removal of any mature or veteran trees.

We have removed 30 non-mature, largely adjacent to the cycle/pedestrian path. These trees are in areas previously discussed with Rushmoor Borough Council.

Vegetation has only been removed within a 10m wide working area for the open cut works, the construction compound and the two trenchless areas. We have not removed vegetation outside of these areas, unless agreed with Rushmoor Borough Council. 

We have not removed any vegetation that forms the boundary between the park and the residential properties to the south. 

Trees that are being retained are protected from installation activity in line with the protective principles set out in the British Standard. We are using tried and tested techniques to work around tree roots through the park. This includes hand digging and use of air spades around roots to ensure we carefully navigate them. 

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 have carefully considered the open cut works for the pipeline and chosen the alignment which retains trees and where possible reduces work within the root protection areas. As part of our submissions to Rushmoor Borough Council, we have identified the trees that need to be removed. We have also committed to use specialist techniques to safeguard the retained trees. We have provided a non-technical summary of open cut techniques through root protection areas in Queen Elizabeth Park available here.

As the Development Consent Order (DCO) has already been granted, we are unable to change the Order Limits and therefore cannot change the route of the pipeline.

Under the Fairy Tree and nearby mature Beech tree we have used a trenchless installation technique called mini auger bores. This means we are able to install underneath the trees.

Main installation of the replacement pipeline through the will likely be completed in January 2023. All our work in the park is overseen by an arboriculturist.

We used an open cut technique to install the replacement pipeline through the park. We committed to narrow working for the open cut works, reducing the working area to a 10m width.  As part of our detailed design and construction planning, we have needed to adjust the pipe alignment to avoid thrust blocks associated with the existing sewer (concrete located underground that prevents the sewer from moving). The changes have been considered alongside the potential impact on vegetation. The result is a 1-2m adjustment to the proposed alignment in some locations. This does not affect the 10m working area required to manage the work. Find out more about this installation technique here.

We have also agreed to taken to undertake two small trenchless crossings under the Fairy Tree and the large Beech Tree within the park, which are both being retained. This work, as stipulated by the council, could not be started until the open cut installation in the immediate area was installed and backfilled. This work is being undertaken currently and is due to be completed and tied- in to the open cut sections in January 2023.

This means the southern cycle path within QEP will be open from spring 2023.

The route section for TC017/018 runs parallel to the railway line, behind West Heath Road, under Stake Lane, Prospect Road and beneath the allotments into Queen Elizabeth Park.

As you may already know, in summer, when undertaking the E-power drill for TC017/018, the drill had a technical failure. We will now be using open cut installation techniques to complete this section. Further information is available in our latest Rushmoor Borough Leaflet and our West Heath Road Leaflet.

Since receiving consent, we have continued to look for the most efficient and least disruptive way to install the replacement pipeline more suited for each individual location.

We completed installation under the Farnborough Road in August 2022. To do this we used a Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) trenchless technique. The launch area for a HDD is shallower than for an auger bore meaning we could use smaller, less intrusive equipment for the installation.

All construction materials for installation in Queen Elizabeth Park will be brought in via Cabrol Road.  

Our working areas are fully secure with locked gates and 24-hour security.

Reinstatement within the park will be completed on a like for like basis and subject to a five-year aftercare period. All reinstatement is agreed with the landowner – Rushmoor Borough Council.

The Cycle/Pedestrian Path

The cycle/pedestrian path in the south of the park will be reinstated once the open cut works are complete. We will reinstate the path on a like for like basis and reinstate the surface of the path. Reinstatement will also include reinstating the lighting

Vegetation Reinstatement

All trees will be replanted on a one for one basis. We will replant with native species and replant as close to their original location as possible.

We have proposed that the areas of rhododendron either side of the southern cycle/pedestrian path will be reinstated with a mix of woodland species, which will create the feel of a woodland ride and lead to an increase in biodiversity.

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

The voluntary Environmental Investment Programme (EIP) comprises a range of activities along the proposed replacement pipeline route to carry out localised environmental improvements, such as enhancing local biodiversity within environmentally classified sites and/or areas of social/community importance.

At Queen Elizabeth Park, these activities include:

• Localised rhododendron control.
• Signage and interpretation boards.
• Restoration and reed planting to the pond.