Improvements to village halls, water supplies, playing fields and the local environment in the Golden Valley are being supported by National Grid following the construction of its natural gas pipeline in the area.

A range of projects that will benefit the communities of Dorstone, Peterchurch, Vowchurch, Turnastone and Madley are receiving more than £18,000 in total from National Grid’s Community Involvement programme.  New tables and chairs are being provided for Vowchurch and Turnastone Memorial Hall, while the Peterchurch Water Supply Society is using its funds to improve the supply of water to properties in and around the village.

“Around 90 properties in the vicinity of Peterchurch receive piped water from springs in the locality,” explained Ian McCulloch, member of the Water Supply Society.  “Our society aims to improve the infrastructure, conserve water and be self-reliant.  The funding from National Grid is helping us to achieve these aims and we are delighted to join the company’s representative here today to toast our continuing success.”

National Grid also supported Herefordshire Nature Trust with the clearance of Madley Moat.  This is part of a wider project to support a pond restoration and celebration project in the county.  The local community is involved in training and volunteer work, after which they will be able to maintain the ponds themselves. 

Dorstone Playing Fields is using its funds to improve drainage.  The playing fields, purchased from the Church Commission, are widely used by local schools for matches and sports days, and are an important part of village life.

Part of National Grid’s 196km natural gas pipeline from Felindre to Tirley, which has been constructed this year, passes through the Golden Valley.

National Grid project manager Brian Smethurst said: “We appreciate that our construction works have been an inconvenience to the communities along the Golden Valley, particularly the increased volume and size of traffic using the local roads. 

“Supporting these projects, which help regeneration in the area, is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the communities for their tolerance and understanding.” 

Reinstatement of the land along the Golden Valley is nearly complete.  The Felindre to Tirley natural gas pipeline is part of National Grid’s Milford Haven Gas Connection Projects, which will be able to provide around 20% of the country’s gas supplies.

National Grid operates a freephone project information line - please call 0800 731 0561 should you have any queries.

For further media information only please call Dianne Owen, Project Communications, on 07836 668522

Background on the project and National Grid
Felindre to Tirley natural gas pipeline facts and figures

• 196km long (90kms Felindre to Brecon; 106km Brecon to Tirley)
• 1220mm diameter steel pipeline
• Each section of pipe is between 12-18m long
• Wall thickness of pipe is 15.9mm or 22.9mm
• Heaviest section of pipe weighs 13.5 tonnes
• Buried at least 1.2m deep in agricultural land and deeper where it passes under roads, railways, etc
• 128 road crossings (53 Felindre to Brecon; 75 Brecon to Tirley)
• M50 motorway crossing Brecon to Tirley
  113 river/watercourse crossings (43 Felindre to Brecon; 70 Brecon to Tirley)
• 6 rail crossings (5 Felindre to Brecon; 1 major Brecon to Tirley)

Key areas for Community Involvement support
The key areas in which National Grid will consider community involvement are:

• Community development - tackling social deprivation, regenerating local communities, supporting projects that help people take the initiative in turning their own communities into safer, healthier, more prosperous and better places
• Environment and energy, both rural and urban - improving living surroundings and the natural environments, encouraging energy efficiency and tackling energy ‘poverty’ in low income groups
• Education and skills – supporting projects to give people the ability to engage in continuous learning and self development

National Grid
National Grid is one of the world's largest utilities, focused on delivering energy safely, reliably, efficiently and responsibly. Our principal interests are in the transmission and distribution of electricity and gas in the UK and US.

We own and operate over 6,800 kilometres of high-pressure transmission pipeline across Great Britain, and 132,000 kilometres of lower-pressure distribution gas mains in the North West, the Midlands, East Anglia and North London – more than half of Britain's gas transportation network, delivering gas to around 11 million homes, offices and factories.

We operate the high-voltage electricity transmission network across Great Britain, and own the network in England and Wales.

National Grid will continue to manage the National Gas Emergency Service freephone line 0800 111 999*.

*All calls are recorded and may be monitored.