Good afternoon all - some of you have enquiried about a recent notice put in Bedford Road by Cadent about works for trees removal. They have been requested by Heath and Safety Executive to remove some trees and vegetation within 3 mt either side of a gas main in the area. As I have been asked to make enquiries I thought that responses I gathered could be of general interest, so below are the responses and information I have received from Cadent agents and the Council.
From Cadent:
At Cadent, safety and environmental stewardship are at the core of our operations. To ensure the ongoing safety and reliability of our gas network, it is sometimes necessary to undertake tree clearance works when vegetation is growing in close proximity to our gas pipelines.
Trees and large vegetation near pipelines can pose several risks, including:
- Root Intrusion: Tree roots can grow into and around buried pipelines, potentially causing damage or corrosion over time. This can compromise the integrity of the pipeline, leading to safety risks or service interruptions.
- Access for Maintenance and Emergency Response: Our pipelines require clear and unhindered access for routine inspections, maintenance, and in rare cases, emergency repairs. Overgrown vegetation can impede these essential activities, delaying response times and increasing risks.
- Ground Stability and Erosion: Trees and their root systems can alter ground stability, which may affect the surrounding soil structure and pipeline support. The removal of certain trees helps mitigate these risks and maintain pipeline integrity.
While these measures are necessary, we are committed to minimising the environmental impact of our work. To achieve this, we:
- Assess the need for tree clearance on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that only vegetation posing a direct risk to the pipeline is removed.
- Replant trees and vegetation in alternative areas whenever possible to offset the environmental impact.
- Collaborate with local environmental groups and stakeholders to develop tailored solutions that balance safety with environmental preservation.
In this instance we will be removing mainly brambles and small self-set vegetation. We are also going to remove three or four immature low amenity trees and in consultation with Alexandra Palace Park we will replace these trees with 2 to 3 times more trees than we have removed. We are talking with them about how many trees, types of trees and location they would like us to replace.
We understand the importance of protecting natural habitats and are dedicated to working transparently with our community partners to maintain a safe and sustainable gas network while supporting environmental conservation.
From Haringey Council:
The Tree & Nature Conservation Manager is aware of the proposed works by Cadent in Alexandra Palace park, which is managed by the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust.
The area where the trees are located is outside of the Conservation Area, therefore no prior notice is required of the works. However, an officer has inspected the trees while attending site for other reasons. The works can be undertaken by Cadent, as they have statutory powers / HSE directive to clear the trees, to allow their works to be carried out. 5-6 self-seeded trees are likely to be impacted by the works.
Our contact at Alexandra Park has confirmed that Cadent have offered to fund replacement trees elsewhere on the site, although they haven’t confirmed anything yet.
There is insufficient space for a Tiny Forest to be planted.
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