FIGHT THE PIPE

About me:

STOP THE PRESSURE REDUCTION INSTALLATION.

We need interested individuals and groups to come together and discuss how we can get involved in stopping this project and give support to others trying to do the same.

The aim of this campaign was first started to try and halt the progress of a monster gas pipeline across Wales. It is now more focused on stopping the gas pressure reduction installation (PRI) being built near Gloucester. If we can stop this installation being built the pipeline will have to run at a lower pressure thus making it safer.

This group is against using fossil fuels and believes all the money invested in the pipeline project should have been spent on renewable energy projects. We will continue to protest at the LNG being shipped into Milford Haven and about the amount of fossil fuel use worldwide. We will continue to help and promote ideas about renewable and sustainable energy. We will continue pressure on governments, councils and businesses to invest and use renewable energy and to turn their backs on fossil fuels.

Campaigns, some going back to 2005 against the pipeline have had strong support all along the 200 mile route from Milford Haven to Tirley near Gloucester. Despite strong public objection National Grid went ahead and laid the pipeline.

In January 2007 Brecon Protest Camp was set up by a collection of individuals to protect a particular area of woodlands just west of the town of Brecon. This area is in fact a part of the Brecon Beacons national park. The camp was a huge success, it helped inform the public of the situation as well as helping to get people together to protest. Sadly the camp was evicted in June 2007.

But the last part of the jigsaw is not yet in place. National Grid is seeking to site a gas pressure reduction installation (PRI) at Tirley, near Gloucester as part of its overall plan to deliver gas from Milford Haven to Tirley. Initially 20% of the whole of the UK's gas supply would pass through the proposed PRI though this would inevitably rise towards 40% or more in the future.

National Grid want about 6.6 hectares of land with the PRI compound in approximately 1.3 hectares of it. The PRI will consist of two single-storey boiler houses (12m long x 14m wide) including four chimney stacks, each 8.5m high (two with two flues and two with four flues), a single-storey back-up generator house, a single-storey instrument building, maintenance lighting columns (14 at 8m high) and perimeter security camera columns (22 at 4.5m high and one at 6m). Subject to receiving planning approval, construction will take approximately 18 months with them main contractor being Murphy Pipelines.

Once in operation, the PRI will be monitored and operated from National Grid's national control centre. No staff will be based permanently at the site, but field staff are on call 24 hours a day to attend the site for maintenance or security reasons.

National Grid proposes delivering gas through a single 48" pipe at high pressure (94 BAR = approx 1,400 lbs per sq inch) which would have to be reduced to 75 BAR (= approx 1,100 lbs per sq inch) before joining the existing small installation near Tirley. The operating pressure (94 BAR) combined with the size of the pipes (48") is unprecedented in the UK, Europe or US near residential property. National Grid has no experience of working at this very high pressure near residential property.

There are major safety concerns over the PRI being put into use. With no on site personal the site is at risk from attack. Whilst National Grid say that if necessary they can shut down the system using remote control valves, that would not stop a accident happening in the first place.

There are strong concerns over noise and light pollution from the site. National grid state that under normal operation, noise from the site will be low and should not disturb people living nearby and lights will only be on if maintenance activities are continued into hours of darkness. The reality is that people probably will hear the operation of the PRI and the lights may well be on often. The number of trees and shrubs to be planted in the landscaping is 23,467 but the countryside will never be the same again.

There are also several major safety concerns regarding this pipeline, National Grid have admitted having no experience of dealing with such a big pipeline. The pipeline measuring at 48inches wide and 120miles long will pump odourless gas through at 94bar. Gas pumped through at this speed is designed to travel in straight lines. This pipeline arches, curves and changes in height, therefore pressure points will be created, weakening the structure of the pipe.

Forest of Dean district council refused planning permission for the PRI to be built on a site near Corse in December 2007. National Grid then moved the site to nearby Tirley. In Febuary 2010 Tewkesbury borough council refused planning permission for this site.

PLEASE NOTE THE TREE CAMP AT BRECON WAS EVICTED IN JUNE 2007. THE WHOLE 200 MILE PIPELINE HAS BEEN LAID. BELOW IS ARCHIVE NEWS.

Protesters are trying to prevent the destruction of beautiful ancient woodland to make way for the 200 mile gas pipeline that is running from Milford Haven in west Wales through Pembroke, Camarthen, the Swansea valleys, Brecon Beacons national park, Hay-on-Wye and Ross-on-Wye to Corse/Tirley near Gloucester.

Inspired by the initial squatting of the pipeline in November 2006, camps sprung up at Milford Haven, Trebanos and Cilfrew, with locals and activists regularly disrupting work. January 2007 saw a number of actions, including at a new location at Alltwen, Pontardawe - where people chained themselves to machinery in order to stop the work carrying on the other side of the valley from the Trebanos camp. The area around Trebanos is prone to land-slip, and it is so unstable that villagers are not allowed to have mains gas supplied!

The newest camp is on the A40 appox 5 miles west of Brecon. Nearby the Brecon protest site there has been spottings of protected species, badgers, owls and bats. National Grid will recklessly destroy their homes, they have been informed and they seem to care very little about it.

Work in Brecon is to start April 2007, National Grid are contracted to delivered gas in October 2007, with dead lines this close work is likely to be rushed meaning short-cuts in safety and environmental issues will be taken, do you think they are a company to be trusted? Brecon Beacon National Park are against this development as the effects on the environment are going to be intense, even if National Grid take every care they can, the land cannot be restored to it’s original beauty.

There are several major safety concerns regarding this pipeline, National Grid have admitted having no experience of dealing with such a big pipeline. The pipeline measuring at 48inches wide and 200miles long will pump odourless gas through at 94bar. Gas pumped through at this speed is designed to travel in straight lines. This pipeline arches, curves and changes in height, therefore pressure points will be created, weakening the structure of the pipe.

The people at the Brecon camp desperately need more donations, they need: climbing rope, polyprop or spare rope, climbing equipment, cargo nets, building timber, beams, nails, tarpaulins, scrap metal, food, water carriers, tools, batteries AA and AAA, torches, candles, lighters, boots and warm clothing, air tight containers and bedding. They would also love for more people to come and join them and for people to pop in to offer moral support! It is easy to spot from the road as there are banners tied to trees for passing cars to see. There is a bus stop near by and places to park so there is no excuse not to go and offer support or take a donation!

here's a map to the Brecon camp PROTEST CAMP HERE!