Representation by Orsett Showground (Orsett Showground)
- Date submitted
- 18 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
PROPERTY 11.62 ha (28.72 ac) level pasture showground and events space. SCHEME Land-take for construction of the LTC / A13 interchange and diversion of a Gas Main. As Identified in the Applicants numbered document 2.2, Land Plan, Volume C as plots 32-59, 32-63, 32-64, 32-65 & 32-66 IMPACTS 1. Loss of land to compulsory acquisition for road construction and associated impact on area hosting major events in the region. 2. Harm to the viable use of retained land for its intended purpose due to the proposed gas pipeline diversion. REPRESENTATION • Statement of Reasons 4.1 under Annex B Schedule of Negotiations No 699, identifies the engagement between the parties up to the point of submission of the DCO application and its subsequent acceptance by PINS. Whilst the Interested Party recognises the applicants efforts to source replacement land to the east, its configuration would not have assisted the impact arising from both the permanent and temporary land take. • The Interested Party has fundamental reservations about the viability of the use of the retained land during the construction of the project. The Showground needs to be safe and accessible to the attendees to the events in all areas during events throughout the year. The proposed diverted gas main may sterilize the immediate area where a risk is present. The Applicant’s position does not recognise that the impact will also depend on the H.S.E land use planning advice (P.A.D.H.I.) and not solely on the agreed matters between parties. Details of both the sterilisation arising due to the proximity of the proposed high-pressure gas main and details of any easement restrictions has not been forthcoming even though requested on numerous occasions. • The Interested Party requires traffic modelling during construction to ensure that the events field can continue to be used without restrictions. • Detailed design in respect of the re-laying of services that serve the site are required and need to be installed prior to the enabling works relating to the gas main diversion. • Method statements and Risk Assessments are required to be disclosed to be able to mitigate the effect of the works on the events held at the site during construction. • the Interested Party requests that the footpath that crosses diagonally across be moved to the track to the north of the Showground due to the fact that the Showground is losing so much land to the Scheme. This footpath diversion is not currently identified as being reviewed in the Scheme proposals.