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We completed the installation of the pipe through Turf Hill in October 2022. We have demobilised our equipment and reinstated the paths and car park.

Final installation works – Tie-ins on the park boundaries

This year, we will connect the pipe at each end of Turf Hill to the sections of pipe being installed in Red Road and Guildford Road – this is known as the tie-in works.

  • The tie-in at the Red Road boundary will take place directly after the completion of the Red Road installation, this will be from the end of March.
  • The tie-in to the Guildford Road section will take place when we install this section. We will be using open cut installation to install across Guildford Road – connecting the pipe installed in Turf Hill to the pipe installed under the Lightwater Bypass A322 (TC021). We estimate this will take approximately two weeks. Installation will require a temporary road closure. All diversions will be fully signposted.
  • After we complete the tie-in at Guildford Road, we will return to the Red Road Boundary to undergo remediation works on the road. This will take approximately three days and will require a full road closure.

About installation

  • The paths have now been fully reinstated.
  • The car park has been restored to the existing natural surface. We have reinstated the wooden bollard perimeter (with new posts) and the vehicle barrier is now back in operation.
  • Rope and post fencing was also temporarily installed along the track to keep visitors on the track, and off the freshly dug soil in areas that will be replanted.
  • We have agreed with the Surrey Heath Borough Council that we will fund a new public sign, which the Council will install at our cost.
  • Replanting will start in late February 2023.
  • Our commitment to reinstatement has always been a like-for-like basis.
  • We will be replanting oak, silver birch and pine trees. This will be in accordance with the approved Turf Hill Site Specific Plan.
  • We will plant saplings, as they have an increased chance of maturing which is seen as best practice when replanting.
  • The vegetation will be subject to a five-year aftercare period.
  • The rope and post fencing will remain in place for a short time to protect the young plants.
  • The tree replanting at the Guildford Road boundary will take place once the tie-in is complete. This will be later in 2023 as replanting must be done in the right season and weather conditions.

We used 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 arboriculturist visited working areas to provide specialist advice when any works to trees, such as branch removal, were required. 

The proposed pipe alignment was designed to avoid the root protection areas of trees in private properties. 

We completed the installation of the pipe through Turf Hill in October 2022. In 2023 we will connect the pipe at each end of Turf Hill to the sections of pipe being installed in Red Road and Guildford Road – this is known as the tie-in works.

We started works on Red Road at the end of June 2022. Our works are currently progressing eastward towards Turf Hill. Once we reach the Red Road/ Turf Hill intersection, we will complete the tie-in works with the section of pipe installed in Turf Hill in 2022.

After we complete the tie-in at the Turf Hill entrance, we will return to the section of pipe first installed west of the Briars Avenue junction to undergo tie-in installation into Colony Bog and Bagshot Heath.

Once we have completed installation, estimated to be in late February, we will fully reinstate Red Road on a like for like basis.

To register for our text service to stay up to date with the progress of works in the road, please text ‘ROADWORKS – RED’ to 60777.

Generally, we will be reinstating our working areas on a like-for-like basis. The timing of our reinstatement may vary depending on weather and seasonal constraints but will be as soon as practicably feasible.

Reinstatement will take place in spring and autumn months. The plans and nature of reinstatement are based on agreements with Surrey Heath Borough Council.

Completed reinstatement: 

  • Whilst we were installing the pipe in Turf Hill, we protected the existing paths with chippings and then placed bog mats over the top. This was to protect the path, avoid compaction of soils in root protection areas, and protect utilities. As a result, the paths surface was not affected by our works. The paths have now been fully reinstated.    
  • Our commitment to reinstatement has always been a like-for-like basis, so in the car park we have restored the existing natural surface, reinstated the wooden bollard permitter (with new posts) and the vehicle barrier is now back in operation. The car park has been fully reopened. The existing public sign was in poor condition so we have agreed with Surrey Heath Borough Council that we will fund a new sign to be installed by the Council.   
Upcoming Reinstatement: 
 
We have started carrying out tree and vegetation reinstatement in accordance with the approved Site-Specific Plan:  
  • Understory planting with native specifies, including over the buried pipeline. 
  • Native trees will be planted, the location of these were secured in the Site Specific Plan. 
  • The area used for our construction compound will be allowed to naturally regenerate as heathland. This has been endorsed by Natural England and is part of the Site-Specific Plan. This will involve replacing the topsoil, but not reseeding or replanting. 
  • The vegetation will be subject to a five-year aftercare period. 

We also have a voluntary Environmental Investment Programme (EIP) across the 97km project.

At Turf Hill, these activities include:

  • Targeted birch clearance within the Heathland complex, of approximately five hectares.
  • New information boards within the car park to include ecological information gained from surveys.
  • Installation of bird boxes, bat boxes Stag beetle stumperies, log and brash piles and Lace Wing boxes in wooded areas on the periphery of site.
  • Undertaking targeted eradication of Gaultheria and Bracken. Approximately 45 hours a year for two years.