St Catherines SANG and Frith Hill

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.
• Construction access for our works will be through the southern access to the SANG by the car park and from the eastern end of the track by Deepcut Barracks.
• 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.

We understand that no one likes the noise and inconvenience caused by construction activities, so we’d like to thank you in advance for your patience when it comes to any disruption that we may cause.

The existing pipeline follows part of the vehicle track through the SANG and Frith Hill before heading north towards the golf course. The replacement pipeline route was selected as it followed a similar route and our construction works could make use of existing track to reduce impacts. We made an early commitment to reduce our working area by 50% to 15m wide, to reduce impacts on mature trees, potential bat roosts and a historic embankment.

St Catherines SANG
From January 2023 we will start open cut installation in the SANG. This will take around two months to complete.

Open cut installation will start from the junction with St Catherines Road and move towards Frith Hill.

Acoustic material will be applied to the fencing to limit the impact of noise pollution on the tranquillity of the SANG. Fencing material will be selected to reduce the visual impact on the SANG, maintaining low visibility of the working area.

We have started building a temporary construction compound next to the southern access point in the SANG. This compound enables us to use narrow working techniques through Frith Hill and will support works in the local area. As it is in public open space, we will wrap it in acoustic blankets to reduce noise.

Frith Hill
From January 2023 we will start open cut installation in Frith Hill. This will take around four months to complete.

Open cut installation will start from the north-east end of Frith Hill, by Pine Ridge Golf Course, and move west towards St Catherines SANG.

There is another temporary construction compound in Frith Hill, at the eastern end of the track where it joins Deepcut Bridge Road. This provides additional vehicle access and reduces the amount of construction traffic coming through St Catherines SANG. It has been placed in an area agreed with the landowner, the MOD.

St Catherines SANG
You will still be able to use and enjoy the SANG during installation. The circular walk will have a short diversion to maintain the walking loop outside of our working area.

Frith Hill
Pedestrian access to Frith Hill will remain throughout construction. Some Public Rights of Way will closed or diverted – see the map above for further details. Please note Frith Hill Road vehicle track within our working area will not be accessible to the public during installation.

Since September 2022 we have been undertaking vegetation and tree clearance in Frith Hill and St Catherines SANG, to prepare the working area, compound areas and access tracks.

In St Catherines SANG our works only require the removal of a small number of younger trees and shrubs within the SANG but not the mature trees on the boundary with St Catherines Road, although branch pruning may have been required to avoid vehicles striking low branches.

We have also committed to reducing the working width to a maximum of 15m wide instead of 30m, which covers the total length of the open cut work within the area.

We will be using tried and tested techniques to work around tree roots, 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.

In the construction compound area, the roots from the mature trees along St Catherines Road will be protected from our installation works.

Construction access for our works will be through the southern access to the SANG by the car park and from the eastern end of the track by Deepcut Barracks.

The work areas will be fully secure with locked gates and 24-hour security.

St Catherines SANG
Once installation is complete the section of the circular path inside our working area will be reinstated on a like-for-like basis. We have an environmental commitment to replant and reseed in the suitable season. This means there will be a short gap between works finishing, and replanting and reseeding starting. We expect this work to place in autumn 2023.

All trees removed will be reinstated on a one-for-one basis and all replanted vegetation is subject to a five-year aftercare period to ensure it becomes established.

Frith Hill
Reinstatement in Frith Hill is due to take place after installation is complete in spring 2023, depending on weather conditions. This land is owned by the MOD and legally we have to agree reinstatement with the landowner.

Following discussions with the landowner we expect to replant trees, except in the safety zone – known as the easement – where understory vegetation will be planted. We have a commitment for a one-for-one tree planting, and in this area we have agreed with the landowner to provide funds for planting the remaining trees elsewhere on their estate.

To improve this area, we will be scalloping the edges of the track which will increase the surface area of edge habitat to encourage a greater variety of floral species. The vegetation will be subject to a five-year aftercare period to ensure it becomes established.