Mersey View Walk
Point 11
Under your feet are crude oil pipelines that carry 9 million tonnes of oil, about a sixth of Britain's oil., every year from Tranmere,. where the ships from the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Norway, Russia, Mediterranean and West Africa berth, to Stanlow oil refinery. Access covers can be seen in the path. You may also notice some small metal plates to the side of the path. Under these are metal pegs that are regularly surveyed to ensure the landfill is not moving as if this happened the oil pipeline would have to be shut down.
Under your feet are crude oil pipelines that carry 9 million tonnes of oil, about a sixth of Britain's oil., every year from Tranmere,. where the ships from the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Norway, Russia, Mediterranean and West Africa berth, to Stanlow oil refinery. Access covers can be seen in the path. You may also notice some small metal plates to the side of the path. Under these are metal pegs that are regularly surveyed to ensure the landfill is not moving as if this happened the oil pipeline would have to be shut down.
At the end of the path look out for a pipeline marker – the white pole with the red hat
At the end of the path look out for a pipeline marker – the white pole with the red hat
Pipelines can also be marked with white gate structures
Pipelines can also be marked with white gate structures
Peter L POINT 11.mp3Engineering the landfill
Engineering the landfill
“It’s predominately to do with movement. Clearly, we’ve put a great big waste mound very close to that pipeline. That pipeline takes oil from Tranmere Terminal and takes it down to Stanlow. So obviously, a major proportion of the oil through the UK comes through there. And what we have to make sure is that the landfill, as it settles, and it’ll squeeze the soils, want to make sure it doesn’t press too much against the pipe and actually fracture the pipe. That’s what we are particularly concerned about so we have put a lot of extra monitoring in, that we wouldn’t do round a normal landfill, to look at ground water movements at depth, actually up to 9 or 15 metres but certainly around the vicinity of the pipeline to make sure there wasn’t any... What happens is you sort of squeeze the water you know in the pore spaces beneath and that pushes against the pipeline. What we have to do is make sure it is done in a controlled manner. When we were filling the site, there was a certain way we had to fill it and that part of the site does not have as much waste on there for a start, is not as high there’s not as much volume. And that was all done based on the maths and the science behind what pressures may be exerted on the pipeline.” Peter L
“It’s predominately to do with movement. Clearly, we’ve put a great big waste mound very close to that pipeline. That pipeline takes oil from Tranmere Terminal and takes it down to Stanlow. So obviously, a major proportion of the oil through the UK comes through there. And what we have to make sure is that the landfill, as it settles, and it’ll squeeze the soils, want to make sure it doesn’t press too much against the pipe and actually fracture the pipe. That’s what we are particularly concerned about so we have put a lot of extra monitoring in, that we wouldn’t do round a normal landfill, to look at ground water movements at depth, actually up to 9 or 15 metres but certainly around the vicinity of the pipeline to make sure there wasn’t any... What happens is you sort of squeeze the water you know in the pore spaces beneath and that pushes against the pipeline. What we have to do is make sure it is done in a controlled manner. When we were filling the site, there was a certain way we had to fill it and that part of the site does not have as much waste on there for a start, is not as high there’s not as much volume. And that was all done based on the maths and the science behind what pressures may be exerted on the pipeline.” Peter L
Silt Ponds
Silt Ponds
Look out for the concrete bases of the decanting towers, used when silt was deposited here. The silt would be pumped into the settling ponds and the excess water then returned to the river.
Look out for the concrete bases of the decanting towers, used when silt was deposited here. The silt would be pumped into the settling ponds and the excess water then returned to the river.
Photo Tony Doherty
Photo Tony Doherty
Birds
Birds
The fence prevents disturbance to wading birds on the mussel beds at low tide.
The fence prevents disturbance to wading birds on the mussel beds at low tide.
Liverpool's Landfill sites
Liverpool's Landfill sites
Directly across the river are two more former landfill sites: Otterspool Prom and The International Garden Festival, created in 1984. It was left to become derelict afterwards and has been subject to many plans since. Part of the site is open.
Directly across the river are two more former landfill sites: Otterspool Prom and The International Garden Festival, created in 1984. It was left to become derelict afterwards and has been subject to many plans since. Part of the site is open.
Green Energy ?
Green Energy ?
It is here that is a proposed site of the tidal barrage across the Mersey.
It is here that is a proposed site of the tidal barrage across the Mersey.
"We recognise that the total area of intertidal mud-flats that would be lost cannot be replaced."
"We recognise that the total area of intertidal mud-flats that would be lost cannot be replaced."
"Includes new transport and leisure links from Port Sunlight on the Wirral to the Festival Gardens on the Liverpool side of the estuary with new recreational walking and cycle paths and a monorail for commuters. "
"Includes new transport and leisure links from Port Sunlight on the Wirral to the Festival Gardens on the Liverpool side of the estuary with new recreational walking and cycle paths and a monorail for commuters. "
George Aggidis, Professor of Energy Engineering at Lancaster University
George Aggidis, Professor of Energy Engineering at Lancaster University
"Such a tidal barrage is not “green” energy, if by green you mean good for the environment. A barrage on the Mersey would have immediate and devastating impacts on the internationally important wildlife. "
"Such a tidal barrage is not “green” energy, if by green you mean good for the environment. A barrage on the Mersey would have immediate and devastating impacts on the internationally important wildlife. "
Dec 2023 an updated image. No real detail. The mono-rail idea has been dropped. How long will cyclists and walkers be delayed when a ship uses the lock?
Rance Tidal Power Station is located on the estuary of the River Rance in Brittany
Rance Tidal Power Station is located on the estuary of the River Rance in Brittany
Directions to the next point
Directions to the next point
Continue along Mersey View walk to the car park. Post 12 is near the anchor.
Continue along Mersey View walk to the car park. Post 12 is near the anchor.