I am writing to put your reader, Teresa Angeletta's, mind at rest about the National Grid gas pipeline work at Kingshill Avenue, Hayes, following your paper's story last week [Will there be trouble in the pipeline for our wildlife?, Gazette, February 4].
It is true that the current work there, and in due course all across the open space, will inevitably cause some disruption to wildlife and people's use of the area over the coming year. However, I can assure Ms Angeletta that no wildlife has or will be driven away by these works, and local residents (of which I am one) will still be able to use the majority of the open space.
There is still the same wide variety of birds and animals in the area, and when the work is complete the area will be restored to its current condition, and with what is likely to be some considerable improvements.
We are hoping to include some sanctuary inlets from the main Yeading Brook to allow fish and other water life to escape the main flow of water in times of flood, preventing the life of the brook being swept down to the River Crane, as currently happens.
After the pipeline has progressed across the meadow, the area will be reseeded with a mixture of seed enriched with local wildflower and grasses that we feel will substantially improve the meadow area.
Trees that are being removed to allow access for machinery will be replaced on a four-for-one basis, and many trees currently being removed are diseased or damaged.
We have discussed with National Grid ways of keeping the felled trees on site to provide log piles in out of the way places that will provide valuable new habitats for insects and animals and hopefully help preserve endangered species in the area.
Some of the existing areas of wetland will be improved as well to create better environments for birds, amphibians and insects.
Only one footpath across the Greenway will be closed for a short time while work is carried out, and the majority of the area is being kept open for people to enjoy, while full site security is maintained round the clock for the safety of workers, residents and local kids alike.
National Grid will have all the necessary plant and machinery on site to carry out what would otherwise be expensive operations to do from scratch.
I can confirm that the company has fully cooperated with local people and the Green Spaces team at Hillingdon Council since the early planning stages, and has been very pro-active in talking to us, listening to our concerns and changing routes and plans wherever possible to meet our concerns for both wildlife and local residents.
It's actually been a pleasure to work with such accommodating people, a far cry from the widely held perception that utilities and contractors like this will do just as they please and ignore local residents' need and concerns.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank National Grid and the LBH Green Spaces team for all their hard work on our behalf, and I'm sure we will all be satisfied with the outcome of these works.
KEVIN GATES,
secretary, Brook Green Residents' Association, by email.
