UPDATE: Subsequent to the publication of this article, SGN has been in touch with Bay Life: information here
Widespread concerns are growing over the proposed 9 weeks work along Coast Road by SGN (the Southern Gas Network)..—Bay Life, 11 October 2016
The notification of the gas works was first made to what the company has described as ‘stakeholders’ on 4 October by Dan Edwards, the ‘Stakeholder Engagement Support Manager’ for SGN.
After explaining that he was writing to make stakeholders aware of the forthcoming “upgrade of our gas network in Coast Road, Pevensey Bay”. he goes on to outline that the “essential work involves the replacement of old metal gas mains with new plastic pipe to ensure we continue to provide a safe and reliable gas supply to the local area”.
The fourth paragraph explains that the disruption will last nine weeks.
Dan Edwards says “East Sussex County Council will complete its road surface repairs. We have agreed to begin our work on 1 November and we anticipate the total project including road surface repairs will take approximately nine weeks.”
The letter whilst clear in surface detail, does not appear to have gone down well within the community, provoking a variety of questions.
One critical question is why no proper formal meeting with residents has been organised. In the circumstances a ‘drop-in meeting’ is being seen by many residents as woefully inadequate.
The letter goes on to make the statement that “all businesses in the local area will remain open as usual”.
It is not clear how SGN is in a position to make such a judgement. The view is unlikely to be shared by the many small businesses that are the lifeblood of the community.
Dan Edwards on behalf of SGN explains that there may be ‘genuine concerns’ and goes on to suggest “we do have a compensation scheme in place for local businesses which suffer a genuine loss of trade because of our work. Packs are available from our website, sgn.co.uk, via the Publications section”.
The letter adds “so that we can explain more about our work, we have organised a drop-in session at Ethel Wood Community Centre, 129 Coast Road, Pevensey Bay, East Sussex BN24 6NS on Wednesday 19 October. You are welcome to attend at any time between 4.30pm and 8pm”.
Cynics might argue that the profile of the meeting is deliberate so that the representatives of the two organisations will not have to face the full force and weight of anger within the community.
“Members of our project team will be on hand to answer questions and talk through our plans in more detail. Representatives from East Sussex County Council will also be there to discuss the carriageway repairs”.
It is not clear how is this meeting intended to work. Might it be reasonable to suggest that this proposed ‘drop in’ is an excuse for community consultation?
A letter dated 5 October, from SGN to residents is an shortened version of the stakeholder letter that includes some changes.
The line, “to ensure everyone’s safety, Coast Road will be closed in five phases over nine weeks “is replaced by the suggestion that “we are aiming to start work on Tuesday 1 November and we anticipate that the entire project will last approximately nine weeks”.
Oddly, the shortened letter does not yet appear to have been received by residents in Coast Road.
It can be argued that by having a drop in session over a four hour period, SGN are seeking to manage the situation from their own point of vie . It is fairly clear local residents do not share this point of view. A number of people have pointed out that the community is not being engaged in the proposed process.
Pevensey Parish Council discussed the issue at their monthly meeting of the Highways and Byways Committee held on 4 October. Two councillors expressed “their horror”.
Draft minutes usefully placed in the newly reopened local library enable residents to see the scale of anger and concern felt by our parish representatives.
The minutes explain that “2 emails have been received today from SGN (the gas contractor) and ESCC Highways.
“Coast Road will be closed in five phases over nine weeks to allow the gas pipe replacement and carriageway repairs. The exact timings have yet to be announced”.
“There is to be a drop in session at EWCC (Ethel Wood Community Centre) on 19 October from 4.30pm until 8pm to allow concerns to be raised.
“The alternative route will be by Sluice Lane and the private section by Norman’s Bay.
“Cllrs Gilbert and Brookbank expressed horror at this proposal which will cause tremendous upheaval for all residents and particularly Beachlands.
“Cllr Gilbert felt that this was a time when extra staff should be brought in in order to reduce the timescale significantly”.
Cllr Gilbert added that he felt that “9 weeks funnelling traffic through Sluice Lane which is extremely narrow was potentially extremely dangerous and the surface on the private road is in a poor state”.
It was proposed at the meeting that “the Clerk write immediately to ESCC to express serious worries about the proposed action and to point out that the private stretch of road will need to be improved prior to any diversion route”.
A community note put out by Malcolm Lawson, clerk to the council (11 October) , following the meeting, suggests that contingency plans are already being considered by the Parish Council on behalf of residents.
The note says, “when the residents of Waverley Gardens are ‘locked in’ because of the closure of Coast Road at the traffic lights from 1st November it might be a suggestion to park in Sea Road Car Park overnight and walk in the morning rather than take the long route by car round Sluice Lane. Only a suggestion and obviously cars left in the Car Park will be subject to the usual rules of left at owners risk!”
Alarm bells have also rung in the community.
Local resident Emma Byers said “from what we heard over the weekend you will need to go out via Normans Bay it’s in stages but both sides of Coast rd closed…..will be an absolute nightmare…..no way my dad can drive down those country roads in the dark it’s shocking that it’s going ahead with no discussion with the residents”.
Jane Ranger who lives in Normans Bay said “we’ve had no letter at all despite the fact all the traffic would come through here , we only know as the committee have emailed residents on their mailing list. I daily meet villagers who are totally unaware of it!”
Odette Ryan-hoare asked, “So how are the residents of Beachlands supposed to get out to go to work shopping etc? Surely they cannot need to shut Coast Rd entirely for the duration of the works? This will cause major disruption”.
Talking to Bay Life this morning (11 October), Chris Wood, manager of the Friendship Club at the Ethel Wood Community Centre, which is responsible for providing a weekly meal for senior citizens and giving senior citizens a valued opportunity to socialise, told us, “I want to say publicly that we have real concerns for the wellbeing of all the people that we serve”.
it seems appropriate that the Gas Network provider, SGN considers again their plan for a ‘drop-in session’ with individual residents.
Given the circumstances and concerns, a number of residents clearly feel there is an urgent need for a discussion with the community about the proposed works.
The letters sent to local people and the proposed drop in session appear to be the only examples of contact with the community. It is clear that these initiatives are not being seen locally as an example of meaningful ‘community engagement’.
Local representatives of the parish and residents are saying that the timescales proposed need to be reconsidered. It is also being seen as fundamentally important that SGN and East Sussex County Council give some consideration of the nature of the road networks in the immediate vicinity of Coast Road.
Without consideration of these matters and all the other genuine concerns of local people, particularly with regard to locations such as the Ethel Wood Centre, the community can perhaps be forgiven for thinking that SGN simply does not care.
John Morea, the Chief Executive Officer of SGN says “What we do as a business affects your lives and the communities we all live and work in.
“It’s vital we listen to what’s important to you, keep you informed about our business activities and ensure your feedback becomes part of our decision-making process and is part of our everyday way of working.”
The words of local resident Emma Byers ring true. There has been no discussion with the community. Perhaps it is time that SGN listened to the people of Pevensey Bay. There is plenty of feedback that suggests there has been no listening to local people of any description.
Nobody doubts that the work must be done. The way in which it is proposed that the work is to be done is causing genuine concern.
For such a large company to have completely ignored these concerns does not speak well of the statement offered by Chief Executive, John Morea that “it’s vital we listen to what’s important to you”.
A meeting with the community would enable local residents to air their views and have their questions answered in a transparent manner.
Simon Montgomery
Editor, Bay Life
