Hynet - Why 'eyesore' items have appeared at Talacre beach

They form part of the Hynet project - which involves the construction of a 26km underground pipeline from Elton, Cheshire to the Point of Ayr gas terminal in Talacre.

The carbon will then be transferred to a platform in the Douglas oil and gas field in the Irish Sea where it will be pumped into depleted oil and gas reservoirs, rather than released into the atmosphere.

As part of the work, which began last year, a cable is needed between the gas terminal and off-shore site to supply the power and upgraded telecommunications needed to support the receipt and distribution of CO₂ to the storage sites.

It involves the use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) – which sees cables installed underground by drilling underneath the sand dunes, instead of digging through them.

The HDD construction work is now taking place – involving the steel structures seen on the beach. Some people have taken to social media to question what they’re for, and to brand them an “eyesore”.

Signs warning people to stay away from the structures. (Image: Vicki Smith)

The work will see a drilling machine placed adjacent to the HDD Entry Pit behind the sand dunes on Warren Farm - which will drill a small tunnel across to the HDD Exit Pit.

The cable will be transported to the beach by the cable lay vessel before being pulled ashore and across the beach into the pit and pulled through the HDD duct. The HDD Entry and Exits pits will then be reinstated, and the ground returned to its original condition.

 Hynet said this trenchless technique will minimise:

• the removal of any sand;
• disturbance to the ground surface; and
• interference with the flood defence characteristics.

“This will ensure that there are no direct impacts to Talacre Brook, the Talacre dune system, the Gronant Dunes and Talacre Warren Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an area of grassland that forms part of the Dee Estuary Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA),” a Hynet spokesperson said.

Talacre is home to some of the country’s rarest species, including a breeding colony of Little Terns (which breed from mid-April until mid-July) and the Natterjack toad.

“A pre-construction survey as well as ongoing surveys will be carried out at Warren Farm and the sand dunes to identify and monitor Natterjack Toads, Sand Lizards and Great Crested Newts. If their presence is confirmed at any stage, works will cease, and the ECoW will be contacted to advise on the best way to proceed,” a Hynet spokesperson said.

“Additionally, the targeted burial depth of the HDD conduit means disturbance to protected species and their dune habitats is not anticipated. For example, Natterjack Toads typically burrow less than 50cm deep, and Sand Lizards up to around 1m, which is shallower than the planned conduit depth.”

The construction on Talacre beach will involve the following:

• Task-specific lighting will be used when required for the safe delivery of works at the lowest brightness level possible. Lighting will be designed and positioned to reduce light pollution into adjacent properties and habitats.
• Fenced boundaries will be reinstated, gaps in hedgerows will be replanted, and grassland will be cultivated. Fencing will be installed in areas of grassland reinstatement to allow the re-seeded grass to establish.
• Measures for pollution and dust controls will be implemented to minimise the likelihood of habitat degradation during construction.
• A piled cofferdam – a temporary wall made of steel sheet piles – will be installed to create an enclosure that will contain any drilling fluids and prevent their release into the environment. It will be removed once construction is complete.

Hynet said temporary screens will be positioned around the boundary of the development to help reduce how much the work can be seen and to protect people walking nearby from any dust.

All equipment, including temporary fencing, screens and signage, will be removed on completion of the works. On the beach, the cable will be covered by sand, and any remaining equipment will be removed.

“This means that there will be no visible infrastructure on the beach when construction is complete,” Hynet said.

The HDD conduit construction work is planned to be completed in early April.