Coldharbour Lane, on the lorry route to Bury Hill Wood. Photo: DrillOrDrop
Road closures, stop-go boards and parking suspensions are among the proposals in a long-awaited plan for routing delivery lorries weighing up to 60 tonnes to Europa’s oil exploration site near Leith Hill in Surrey. The consultation on the company’s traffic management plan closes tomorrow (Wednesday 21st June).
The plan for Bury Hill Wood proposes to close a 4km stretch of road for up to three days when the drilling rig is delivered and again when it is removed. According to the plan, Coldharbour Lane will be shut to traffic from 9.30am-7pm between Knoll Lane on the edge of Dorking and the village of Coldharbour.
For other deliveries, the route, which includes a historic sunken lane, would have traffic controls, including stop-go boards and banksmen with radios.
If approved, the plan would suspend parking in part of Knoll Road, a residential street and route to a local school. The road would be used as a holding area for convoys of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) waiting to enter the site. A 30mph speed restriction would also apply on Coldharbour Lane.
Leith Hill Action Group, which has opposed Europa’s plans since 2008, has urged people to object to the traffic management plan. It said:
“Coldharbour Lane is a historic sunken lane currently signposted as unsuitable for HGVs. It will have 60 tonne crane carriers, 50 tonne drilling rig transporters and flatbeds carrying earth-moving machinery.
“Road closures and delays in Dorking traffic are likely to endanger any residents who need emergency services.
“Problems will quickly escalate to traffic flows across Dorking, which struggles to handle existing volumes.”
The proposals are a condition of planning permission, granted in August 2015, after a public inquiry. During the hearing, the inspector, Stuart Nixon, criticised Surrey County Council for failing to check the company’s traffic plans (DrillOrDrop report). He also told Europa:
“Your whole process relies on management down to the minute. But I am not sure that the information before the inquiry gives me confidence that you are able to achieve that”.
The Bury Hill Wood site, known in the industry as Holmwood, is in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the greenbelt.
The traffic management plan now before Surrey County Council uses the same route as the one set out at the inquiry. HGVs will travel on the A24 to the A2003 Flint Hill, then into Knoll Road and Coldharbour Lane.
Europa denied emergency services would be delayed and said it had responded to issues raised at the inquiry.
The company proposed using aluminium trackway panels for the base of the wellpad, instead of crushed stone. This would, it said, reduce the number of lorry loads during site construction and restoration phases from 194 to 44 and lorry movements from 388 to 88.
But Europa said some stone would still be needed and it wanted to keep open the option of using wholly crushed stone. Under the stone option, the development, scheduled to last 18 weeks, would generate 681 HGV loads, or nearly 1,400 trips, in vehicles ranging in weight from 20-60 tonnes.
Europa said it had also taken account of the popularity of the area among cyclists and would avoid delivering or removing crushed stone from the site on Saturday mornings.
The company’s traffic survey concluded:
“The size of the groups [of cyclists] and the speed they travel down Coldharbour Lane presents a high risk of an accident with serious consequences should there be a collision with an HGV, even if it is travelling at 30mph.”
But LHAG said the survey authors “play down the risks [to cyclists] at other times”. It also questioned Europa’s claim that there was “zero or negligible” risk to walkers and horse riders because the numbers were low.
Consultation
The Surrey County Council consultation on the traffic management plan ends on 21 June 2017. Comments can be sent by email to mwcd@surreycc.gov.uk and should include full name and address.
Other planning issues
Europa has submitted three further applications for Bury Hill Wood that have yet to be decided.
- Installation of perimeter security and deer fencing, as well as offices, welfare facilities, fuel and a generator for 18 weeks (MO/2016/1563)
- Installation of perimeter security and deer fencing, as well as offices, welfare facilities, fuel and a generator for 52 weeks (MO/2017/0222)
- Tree felling, vegetation removal and installation of 1.1m reptile fence (MO/2017/0255)
Links
Surrey County Council webpage for traffic management plan
Bury Hill Wood Traffic Management Plan
Leith Hill Action Group Newsletter on the traffic management plan
DrillOrDrop Bury Hill page of key facts, links and timeline
Categories: Regulation
DRILL OR DROP? 
What is the alternative. Ship the gear in by carrier pigeon. You have to go where the oil is and 6 days road closure well 3+3 is no biggie. Normal roadworks and tarmac works close roads for longer. .
I used to walk along Coldharbour Lane regularly, the route is totally unsuitable for ANY HGV, let alone a 60 to the restrictions are that it is unsuitable for HGV’s, the road construction is an ancient right of way and structurally incapable of taking repeated load. I have written here extensively on what will happen and how any planned “repair” work is inadequate and will not address the structural weakness. The plan to use a school route for HGV’s is simply insane and represents a severe danger of horrific accidents, how could this even be contemplated, let alone drawn up in a TMO?
This whole project is an insult to the local residents, cyclists, horse riders, children and parents and common sense and should be halted and re evaluated if not stopped entirely.
I have repeated my concerns to the council and the government on this.
If there is one site in the whole country worth saving from this o&g debacle, this is the one I would choose.
Oops 60 tonne of course, I mustn’t write when I am angry. On the other hand, when better to write?
Don’t you worry your little head there Phil we will wrap the HGV in bubble wrap and have unicorns tow it past the school.
Have you seen the route used for the wings on airbus aircraft? That’s a whole different level!
Woohooo! That it? ThatTheBestUCanComeUpWith? What an erudite and insighteful critique of the subject in hand? We are all so impressed with your astounding knowledgeable grasp of the technical issues regarding bubble wrap and unicorns? Curiously relevant to the subject dont you think? Perhaps you can turn the LGV into a Robin Reliant with your pixie dust spells?
Meanwhile, in the real world the usual o&g experts are astounding us all with their concern for law and the environment, always a pleasure.
you do not have to burn all the wood on a wooden boat in order to cook your food … you would be wise to find an alternative like solar … there are so many alternatives … Coldharbour Lane is so beautiful it should be protected by Unesco!
Come back to us in 20 years and see where we are at.
Wormwood Scrubs?
I think they send the criminally insane to Ashworth, Phil 🙂
Thanks, my bad, Ashworth, that sounds rather like the result of the industry fracking ambitions doesn’t it?
Engineers see solutions to problems. With your attitude Phil C, we would still be in the stone age. Development will provide jobs, and will be good for the economy of the country. The 100 wells around Poole harbour are not noticed. Any development will be done with the utmost sympathy for the environment. Best not make comments about the driving issues Phil C. There are highway specialists that know what they are talking about.
Better ban another industrial activity. Farming.
I am an engineer as you very well know Boris,
The solution to this unwelcome, unwanted and ecologically insane o&g imposed problem is to stop this environmental disaster right now.
Coldharbour Lane is totally and unarguably completely unsuitable in every possible way for any industrial development.
GottaBorisFakeID or who ever you are, the very reason we are not any longer in the stone age is due to engineers making sure the stone edifices stood up and didn’t fall on the locals, and those stone edifices have survived for 5,000 years and will do better than that yet.
Rule number one of engineering, Serve and protect people from unscrupulous exploitation, don’t poison them don’t endanger them just for profit, and don’t impose dangerous industrial operations in their sacred places. They tend to get upset about that. even the industrial revolution profiteers understood that. The o&g industry appears to have forgotten that, if they ever knew it, or in some insane way, think they are are immune from the consequences of their unscrupulous activities? Not very clever at all.
True Engineers never settle for the lowest possible tender option, they are wise enough to see that is the worst choice, they go for the one with the best parameters to achieve the goal.
Only unscrupulous bean counters go for the lowest possible tender option as evidenced recently in Kensington.
The thinking represented by that recidivistic comment is of a pre stone age mentality going back to the Carboniferous which is hooked on decaying vegetation and ignoring about 350 million years of evolution.
Some of us evolved to become responsible for our actions, clearly that is not a evolutionary process that reached into the dark antediluvian processes of the o&g bean counters?
In this age of increased automation the number of jobs created is not beneficial compared to the amount of environmental damage caused by fossil fuels. This will only benefit the oil company and shareholders. Jobs could be created in renewables – the types of jobs that local people are asking for. It’s not only engineers that find solutions to problems thank you.
Get your chequebook out and start investing in renewable companies then.
Hi teacherstevebaker, dont be concerned at the attacks [edited by moderator]
Just ignore it, I enjoy playing them at their own game, but it doesn’t really move the subject any further forward, which is what they dont want, keep posting [edited by moderator]
So, slow walking does not obstruct highways but 60 tonne lorries do? And what are highways for?
Similar comments to those from someone the other day who did not know anyone who supported fossil fuels!
Flat earth philosophy is still with us, it seems.
Incidentally a 60 tonne vehicle, is not an HGV, it is by ruling an LGV and is not legally enabled without severe restrictions on British roads.
“Longer Heavier Vehicles (LHVs), also called super lorries, is a classification of large goods vehicle (LGV) (formerly Heavy Goods Vehicles, HGVs) in the United Kingdom. LHVs are not presently allowed to operate on UK roads, being longer and/or heavier than the legal limits, which as of 2009 allowed LGVs up to a maximum of 6 axles and 44 tonnes (43.3 long tons; 48.5 short tons) of fully laden vehicle weight, and a maximum overall length of 16.5 m (54 ft 2 in) for articulated lorries, or 18.75 m (61 ft 6 in) for drawbar lorries.
Since the early 2000s, some haulage companies in the UK had been investigating potential LHV designs and lobbying for a change in the law. Various types of LHV exist, and most of the larger types involve using extra axles, and different trailer arrangements, forming so called road trains. LHVs are supported by some hauliers as a way to increase productivity and reduce costs. Their introduction however faces opposition from rail freight, road safety and environmental groups, who want a general reduction in road traffic, and from portions of the public over general safety and quality of life issues.
In 2005, some companies unsuccessfully applied to the Department for Transport (DfT) for permission to be able to trial their prototype vehicles. In November 2006, the DfT launched a desk based study into the potential impact of a multitude of LHV options on the UK road transport sector, and the wider economy and environment in general, looking at options ranging from simply extending existing lengths and weights of articulated and drawbar lorries, up to allowing 11-axle, 34 m (111 ft 7 in) long, 82-tonne (80.7-long-ton; 90.4-short-ton) fully laden weight vehicles. In June 2008, based on the study’s conclusions, the legalisation of most types of LHV was postponed indefinitely, due to concerns over the effect on the rail freight sector, and the need for infrastructure and other changes, although a further investigation into the LHV option of extending the length of articulated lorries, to create Longer Semi-Trailers (LSTs), was begun in June 2009.
Despite the 2008 DfT ruling on LHVs, Lincoln based haulage company Denby Transport, one of the most active proponents of LHVs who had developed their own 25.25 m (82 ft 10 in) long 60-tonne (59.1-long-ton; 66.1-short-ton) Denby Eco-Link LHV, is attempting to have their vehicle legalised at 44 tonnes (43.3 long tons; 48.5 short tons), under an existing UK legal loophole dating from 1986.”
The truth is that ancient rights of ways were for people and horse drawn carriages, motor vehicles have never had right of way, its pedstrians and horse riders that have right of way along the ancient right of way of Coldharbour Lane, no road closure will change that to allow an LGV to traverse that public right of way, and the action may even be illegal on LGV grounds. That should be challenged locally by the residents forthwith.
Its frack earth policy which caused the problem in the first place.
Super lorry stopped by police after 100m
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232510/Britains-longest-lorry-takes-roads–travels-just-100ft-stopped-police.html
Super lorries (LGV’s) banned from British roads
https://www.whatcar.com/news/super-lorries-barred-uk-roads/
For this vehicle to be allowed to travel on ANY road in UK is illegal, what are the police going to do about that?
http://www.transportsfriend.org/abnormal/category.html
Gross weight of vehicle carrying the load exceeding C&U limits up to 80,000 kgs (78.74 tonnes) 2 clear days notice with indemnity to Highway and Bridge Authorities
Only on officially approved HGV routes, ask any heavy load delivery operator, and then it needs permission from the highways authority and with escort vehicles, Coldharbour Lane is totally unsuitable for HGV’s and will fail, and the costs of that must be laid at the door of the operator. I have suggested the requirement for a legal bond to Surrey County Council.
Highways should be abolished under the thinking process adopted by the antis.
Best find yourself a nice little cave to nestle up in for remainder of retirement.
Once more we are astounded by your grasp of the technical issues involved by the LGV issue.
Is that a pixie dust fantasy decree by the GottaBubbleWrapUnicorn party?
That is sure to get less votes than Mr Fishfinger and Lord Bucket Head or the tory party Prime Minister you serve so loyally for that matter?
Such fun, GottaPinkyOnThePulse!
Excited to see their hill starts!
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Sorry “travels just 100 feet”, clearly Daily Mail dont think in metric? 100 feet is about 30 metres.
I suggest the residents write immediately to Surrey county Council today and demand that the legal restrictions for LGV be enforced by the police as a matter of urgency. If not that they publish the legal document that allows them to break UK law.
Since this applies to my locality as well, (LGV restictions apply to All UK roads) I will write on my own behalf.
Phil C
No worries, it will be a Heavy Abnormal Indivisible Load, which is allowed. I doubt they intend to take lots of those illegal 60 tonne articulated lorries up there.
Show me the change in the law and the legal documentation to let this illegal load to operate anywhere in this country on a road unsuitable for LHV use?
Actually, it is LHV, must be this hot day! LHV, LHV, LHV, yes, I think I got it!
Phil
Not a change in the law but the route to a dispensation?
Under http://www.gov.uk, Transporting Abnormal Loads.
An abnormal load is, inter alia, one which weighs more than 44,000kg. So 60 Tonnes fits the bill.
An application to do it has to be made, using the Abnormal Load Application forms. The ‘Aide memoir for notification requirements for the movement of Abnormal Indivisible Loads or vehicles by road when not complying with The Road Vehicle ( construction and use ) Regulations’ has a good overview of what is required.
However……
The Construction Traffic Manadement a Plan for the site has the vehicle weights listed on page 9.
The heaviest vehicle is the 100 Tonne crane (60 Tonnes), then, in descending order, the drill rig (50 Tonnes) and an excavator on a low loader (49.5 Tonnes). After that 32 tonnes for most of the other stuff including consumables.
So I will ask Ruth if the 60 Tonne lorry reported in the headline is in fact the 100 Tonne crane. Not a 60 Tonne Lorry.
Doesnt change anything, a 100 tonne abnormal illegal truck load on a road that is totally unsuitable for HGV”s let alone LHV’s is still an illegal act and will destroy an ancient right of way and should be treated as a breach of the regulations.
Special dispensations legal or illegal loads dont alter that fact that the road in totally unsuitable for the load in width, turning circle or loads.
The fact that the council knew this and didnt say “no”, just proves that they are as culpable as the operators in not protecting an ancient right of way and should be immediately taken to task for it.
That doesn’t alter anything for the local residents, the illegal load law still applies.
Phil
Thanks. Just pointed out that it’s a crane weighing 60 Tonne and how it’s made legal.
I have not commented on the morality of It all.
My guess is the 100t crane is the swl of the crane and the crane itself weighs 60t. It is quite easy to spread the load over a number of axles.
Phil C. Do you think slow walking as a protest increases risk to injury? If so why have you not condemned the recent slow walking?
No, its a ancient public right of way, its vehicles that are the intruders so its not necessary [Edited by moderator]
They can perhaps get some extra oil out, make some tarmac and dual it? That way there will be plenty of room for trucks and people.
You clearly have no understanding of road construction and integrity, tar macadam or asphalt are bituminous materials mined from tar lakes. The construction of a road is a technical design of million standard axles and takes into account such things as bow wave effects, tearing and repetitive loads, structural integrity and wearing surface, base and binding course, sub base and subgrade. Some minor surface remediation is purely cosmetic and will not address any of those technical requirements and calculations that require highways authority submission and approval.
The original sub grade and what little structural integrity that does exist (if any) will fail, if not immediately, then sooner rather than later.
The operators should pay for an entire new carriageway construction, that will probably cost about £2 million to £3 million and close the road entirely fo six months or so, and still the sight lines and lack of sufficient clearance from embankments and overhanging trees will make the tiny narrow road unsuitable for HGV, let alone illegal LHV use.
I say again, demand the legal documentation that allows an LHV to traverse ANY road, let alone Coldharbour Lane.
errr. it was a joke. Jeez. lighten up.
Err it is not a joke, ask the locals GottaNewFakeID
Seriously? STOP PRESS: LORRY TO DRIVE ALONG ROAD. Only in the UK…
Go ask the residents how funny they think it is? Seriously.
Phil c. You seem awfully angry towards everyone. Let’s face it locals couldn’t give a shit. It’s the rent an anarchist mob who organise and attend everything. … everyone else just gets on with their lives.
What non oil derived equipment are you using to connect to the Internet Phil? Have you ensured your isp is using renewable energy to cool their servers? Or do you think everything runs on fairy dust?
[Edited by moderator]You lot really don’t like being challenged do you? I am not angry at all, i was annoyed initially with the prospect of a 60 tonne illegal load destroying the rural quiet Coldharbour Lane, and rightly so, but that was over in seconds, then i was happy to put down the facts without any personal comments. That clearly triggered all these personal attacks from you lot.
[Edited by moderator]
Do you breath clean air? Do you drink clean water? Do you eat clean food? Then why jeopardise other peoples rights to that? So dont make silly parallels with the usual o&g myths if you can’t deal in common sense.
[Edited by moderator]
I’m a local resident. This afternoon a petition calling for the local council to issue Tree Preservation Orders on the most at risk trees in Coldharbour Lane was handed in to MVDC which was signed by >2000 other local residents in response to this plan. Anyone who thinks this is just a few anarchists knows nothing about what is happening here. There is massive local opposition, zero social license, and a large number of people totally committed to stopping this going ahead. As regards anyone coming here from outside the area to help, we are simply grateful to them for the additional support.
Thanks for posting Save Our Countryside, my thoughts are with you, I will try to be there soon.
Keep us updated on progress, I looked at your blog, very impressive. Dont worry about the anti anti’s, they don’t like anyone posting contrary to their o&g imperative, just ignore them.
“Oil price drops again to a record low”
Yet, we will still hear repeated comments on this site that fracking has had no impact upon energy prices!!
These are not o&g myths, this is reality. This is helping billions of people around the world to improve their standards of living and life expectancy, as less of their income is spent on what, for many, is currently essential expenditure. I welcome the fact that, at last, the oil cartel is taken down a peg, and the worlds nations are not held over a barrel, to paraphrase. Ironically, the lower prices will actually enable increased investment into alternative energy sources as anyone who has any economic awareness knows that research and development can be funded better when other costs are reduced. This will clearly be seen to be continuing in the US over the next few years but the media is full of nonsense about the impact of US withdrawing from the Paris agreement.
Yes, I do eat clean food, as I grow much of it, but I do realise that many in this country eat “clean” French Beans all year round, with roses on the table, all year round, both air freighted in from Kenya. Theoretically, they should both be getting cheaper in UK, volumes may increase, and the Kenyans will benefit economically, and it may mean less economic migrants. But we could always let the cost of air freight rip, destroy such trade, and pay out more overseas aid to compensate!
Reality appears to be subjective, part of the human condition, one persons reality is another’s nightmare and vice versa. i am glad you eat clean food, at present we can still eat clean food, drink clean water and have a clean environment for ourselves and our children, then look where fracking and unregulated oil production is rife, and the picture will not be so pretty.
Believe it or not, i do this to protect my family, their families and everyone’s families, you included. I would do that for them and for you. there is no other way to say it. i feel that strongly about it.
That is my reality.
We’re replying to previous comments. Our group Bore Free South has met with local Dorking residents who certainly do care about their area. Leith Hill is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty and Coldharbour Lane is the last place on earth you would let an industry with such a poor environmental track record to ravage such a beautiful and supposedly protected area. Surrey County Council tried to stop this proposed and unnecessary drilling, after appeal but they were finally overturned by the Secretary of State. So much for democracy. Financial gain always outweighs what is right and the couldn’t give a shit arrogant Tory culture are at it once again here. The oil industry has repeatedly ignored planning consent and they are currently doing so in this area. Why? Because the old toffs brigade have always got their snouts in the financial trough and to hell with the looming environmental disaster about to hit this area and so many other locations across our green and pleasant land.
Excellent replies Save Our Countryside and John at Bore Free South, thanks for being there and challenging this travesty of justice, you have more support than you think, this may be the breaking of this horrific attack on you most treasured Bury Hill Wood and Coldharbour Lane, i spent many happy hours there back in my youth, and seeing this devastation makes me even more determined to show up this thoughtless desecration for the insanity it is.