- Why should the storage facility be built at Saltfleetby and not elsewhere?
- How can we be sure that it is safe?
- Where will the gas be coming from and going to?
- How far underground will the gas be stored?
- Why is the storage so deep in the ground?
- Will there be any smell of gas?
- Will the Gas Storage Plant be noisy?
- Is it true that there will be hundreds of lorries going to the site each day?
- What about disruption to the local community?
- Won’t the development look ugly?
- Why have I been receiving so many letters from LandAspects recently?
- Why is it necessary to apply for a Compulsory Purchase Order?
- If my property is reduced in value due to the Gas Storage Project, will WINGAS provide compensation?
- If I accept the offer will this prejudice my rights to compensation if my property is reduced in value due to the Gas Storage Project?
- Will WINGAS pay for legal advice to help me evaluate the offer?
- What is the basis for making a £50.00 offer for sub-surface rights?
- When will I get my money?
- If I am not part of a company, who should witness my signature on the legal documents?
- What is the time-scale?
- If I sign over these sub-surface rights but object to your Gas Storage Project will it affect my position to protest?
- What happens if I do not accept your offer?
- How can I find out more?
- The natural deep underground gas reservoir is at Saltfleetby. It is this geological feature that dictates the location and position of the facility
- There is a mile and a half of solid rock between the gas reservoir and the surface at Saltfleetby.
- The gas is held in porous rock (rather like a sponge) and not in a tank.
- Gas has been stored naturally in the reservoir without incident for millions of years.
- The methods of drilling, operating and maintaining the wells is identical to the wells already present and this technology has an enviable safety record.
- The suitability of the reservoir for storage has been scrutinised by experts at the British Geological Survey and this report has been subject to critical analysis by Professor Haszeldine of Edinburgh University at the request of Lincolnshire County Council and their consultee the Health and Safety Executive.
- The national grid can only carry a limited amount of gas at any one time. It needs storage facilities to smooth out peaks and troughs in national demand. When the consumer takes gas out it must be replenished.
- When being stored, the gas at Saltfleetby will be taken directly from the national grid at Theddlethorpe. When it is being released, it will be released directly into the national grid.
- The reservoir of porous rock is approximately one and a half miles underground. It is capped by impermeable rock which has great sealing capabilities.
- To store gas underground, a suitable reservoir is required which is properly sealed on top with an impermeable rock.
- The location of such a potential storage reservoir is determined by the geology.
- The reservoir rock in Saltfleetby has been deposited millions of years ago and has demonstrated its suitability to retain gas.
- The gas that is stored in the underground storage is processed natural gas which is tasteless and odourless therefore the underground storage will not smell of gas.
- Because it is odourless, we use special industrial gas-detectors to warn us in the unlikely event of a gas leakage in our process equipment.
- However, before gas is distributed to end-users for cooking and heating, it is odorised within National Grid by adding small amounts of odorants (mercaptans) to assist in leak detection in streets and houses. That is why gas used for domestic purposes will smell.
- The compressors’ drivers emit the highest noise levels on the plant and will be installed in sound-proofed enclosures.
- The total noise expected to come from the plant will be some 38 d.B(A) (this means that the sound is weighted to mimic the human ear) at the nearest dwelling.
- For comparison a field of corn in a light breeze generates 50 d.B(A).
- No. When the site is operational, there will be no more traffic than is generated by the present gas field operations.
- During the construction phase, there will inevitably be some construction traffic. At its absolute peak, for a maximum of a two-month period, there will be a maximum of around 50 lorries going to and from the site per day.
- During construction, lorries will be held at an off-road holding point before Manby crossroads and will only be able to proceed during prescribed periods.
- Once the site is operational, there will be no more impact on the local community than is caused by the current gas field operations.
- Disruption throughout the construction phase will be kept to the absolute minimum. A local liaison committee already exists and it is hoped that this committee will continue to function and overcome any problems throughout the construction and into the operational phases.
- WINGAS is committed to being a good neighbour and will continue to seek to play an active role in the community.
- The development is the least intrusive way of storing essential gas. Instead of hundreds of above ground gasometers, the gas will be stored a mile and a half below ground.
- An above-ground plant will be necessary to pump the gas to and from the reservoir but we will make every effort to screen the site by planting trees and hedges to minimise any visual impact on the local landscape.
- The buildings housing the plant will be heavily screened by extensive landscaping.
- LandAspects were engaged on our behalf. WINGAS is legally obliged to ensure that it contacts everyone with an interest in the land to satisfy the requirements of the Gas Act 1965 when applying for a Storage Authorisation Order. This information is also required so that we can make a private treaty offer for the rights we need. Failing this we will need to resort to obtaining them compulsorily.
- Since there are a large number of landowners it is unlikely that we will secure agreement from everyone within the timescale for the project so we are seeking a Compulsory Purchase Order to ensure we can proceed with the project in the event of getting a Storage Authorisation Order.
- Yes, the law provides the entitlement to claim compensation and WINGAS will proceed fully in accordance with this basis.
- However, our advice is that your property is unlikely to be reduced in value due to the Gas Storage Project as the reservoir is underground. People’s perception may influence property prices and this can become an issue if the location has attention drawn to it. In any event it is unlikely there will be any immediate effect arising from the proposals and evidence is only likely to emerge over a period of a number of years.
- If however you are able to produce evidence that your property has reduced in value as a result of the Deed of Grant or the designation of the Storage Authorisation Order then compensation will be paid.
- No – the offer is in respect of the rights only and the agreement provides that you will still be able to claim compensation for any reduction in value of your property caused by implementation of the scheme or designation of the area under the Storage Authorisation Order.
- Yes - WINGAS are making the offer to everyone owning the land within the area of the reservoir on exactly the same terms. That is £50.00 for the rights we require and £500.00 which may be spent on legal/surveyor costs. If you are satisfied with the offer and decide you do not wish to obtain independent legal advice you can keep the £500.00.
- WINGAS have taken advice from expert valuers who are familiar with valuing these rights in different parts of the country. The Lands Tribunal, a body which fixes compensation on Compulsory Purchase where the parties cannot agree, recently fixed a value of £50.00 on rights in similar circumstances.
- Within four weeks of receiving the signed document(s) from you.
- Any person who is over the age of eighteen who is not a family member.
- WINGAS are applying for a Compulsory Purchase Order which will be submitted to BERR (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, formerly DTI) in October 2008.
- No, signing over the rights will not affect your rights to object to the scheme.
- WINGAS is seeking powers to compulsory acquire the rights it needs to undertake the scheme. This offer will remain open. If you are unhappy at the level of the offer the statutory procedure will still apply and in the event the CPO is confirmed and implemented the right to make a claim will arise.
For further information, please contact the Saltfleetby enquiry hotline at the WINGAS Storage UK Limited head office:
Building 3, Chiswick Business Park
566 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 5YA
Phone: 020 8849 8768
Email: saltfleetby(@)WINGAS-storage.com
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