ESSO Petroleum Company Limited has launched its first consultation to hear community views about the proposed corridors for its replacement fuel pipeline.

The current underground pipeline supplies aviation fuel to some of the UK’s busiest airports and runs from Esso’s Fawley refinery near Southampton to its west London terminal storage facility in Hounslow, passing through Alton as it links up with the Alton pumping station on the A31 at Upper Froyle.

Seventeen corridors were developed initially, six were then shortlisted and the project team has potentially identified pipeline corridors, one leading to and one from the Alton pumping station, as best fitting the guiding principles.

These are the options that broadly follow the existing pipeline, although there are some places where this is no longer possible.

The project will replace 56 miles of the 65-mile Southampton to London pipeline, but not the first nine miles of the pipeline between Hamble and Boorley Green as this section of the pipeline was replaced in 2002.

The favoured Option G corridor, from the south, was developed to follow the existing aviation fuel pipeline where possible to make best use of existing infrastructure and landowner and stakeholder relationships.

The corridor avoids ancient woodland and sensitive features above the existing pipeline.

It runs from Boorley Green, north of Fawley, and heads north-east, passing between Bishop’s Waltham and Upham, where it enters the South Downs National Park.

It then passes the village of Bramdean, passing under the A272 and the A32. The final approach to Alton is between Lower Farringdon and Chawton, south-east of the A31, passing Alton before crossing the River Wey to approach the Alton pumping station from the south-west.

Alton Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Stephen Lewis said: “If this option is backed by the consultation, this corridor will cross the A32 north of Lower Farringdon, cross the Selborne Road (B3006) by Farm and Country Supplies, Shepherds Court and Scaifs Farm, pass near Truncheaunts House and Farm (Kiln House), pass near the clubhouse at Worldham golf course, pass under the new solar PV farm on the B3004 Kingsley Road, and cross the A31 by the oil terminal at Froyle.

“Apart from those few houses and businesses affected, the other issue is the fact that it will cross under every road south and east of Alton.

“The disruption will be considerable, and we really don’t want it going on while the housing, bridge and sports centre works are snarling up the south end of Alton,” said Mr Lewis.

To the north, favoured Option J continues to follow the existing route through Hampshire and Surrey taking into account features that weren’t built or protected in the 1960s, when the existing pipeline was built.

The corridor begins by heading east from Alton, crossing the A32 and heading north-east while keeping to the south-east of Upper and Lower Froyle, continuing to the south-east of Crondall before crossing the A287 and keeping to the south-eastern outskirts of Fleet. It then passes Tweseldown Racecourse from the north-west, travelling through Fleet before joining The Maultway and going around Bisley and Pirbright Ranges toward Chobham Common where it joins with another corridor to take it on toward London.

In explaining the need for the work, Esso points out that pipelines are considered a safe, secure and low impact way to transport fuel, and “this pipeline will continue to keep an estimated 100 road tankers off the road each day”.

The pipeline itself is relatively small, with an internal diameter of around 30cm.

Tim Sunderland, Southampton to London pipeline project executive is urging residents and landowners to participate in the consultation. He said: “We recognise the importance of individuals, communities, representatives and organisations contributing to the development of our proposals.

“The existing pipeline was built in the late 1960s. Since then, Hampshire and Surrey have changed dramatically. The South Downs National Park and many other protected sites have been established alongside the existing pipeline.

“We need to identify a corridor that will minimise interruption to local communities and have better environmental outcomes versus the other options considered.”

He said: “Corridors are typically around 200 metres wide. Once the preferred corridor has been chosen, we will develop a preferred route. A route is typically in the region of 20-30 metres wide for the installation period.”

Esso intends to consult on the chosen route in the autumn. It will then submit its application for permission to install the replacement pipeline via a development consent order to the planning inspectorate and the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

This initial consultation period began on March 19 and closes on April 30.

In Alton, the Esso consultation takes place today (Thursday, March 29) at Alton Community Centre, from 2pm-8pm.

There will be a further consultation at Ropley parish hall on Wednesday, April 11, from 2pm-8pm.

Alternatively, you can have your say online at slpproject.co.uk or e-mail [email protected].