Can you, Adam and Eve, it? Last Friday marked one year since the start of the disruptive water restriction affecting 621 Bramley homes, schools, and businesses due to the major fuel leak.
A leak causing major roadworks, queuing traffic, noise, excavations, digging, vibration, and fumes. Hundreds of residents had no phone or internet connection as petrol penetrated the network of communication cables.
One local said recently, it could have been worse. It most certainly could have been – the massive risk of explosion if someone had dropped a spent cigarette near the excavation holes.
It seems like only yesterday when the Waverley Web revealed that petrol was leaking from the Bramley Garage, but it was four long years ago. But nobody listened to us!
Then a couple of MPs and councillors jumped on the oil wagon, despite either not noticing it or ignoring the issue for years.
While the village is recovering, the water restriction was only a small part of the havoc that has blighted Bramley, which has looked like a building site for years.
Will anyone ever be able to fully assess the damage that has been caused underground, particularly since the leak was located near a primary Bramley private school, St Catherine’s?
Businesses have been severely impacted; some have abandoned their shops, while others have suffered a massive loss of trade.
Don’t wish to be churlish – Asda did send everyone a £50 coupon to spend in its supermarket.
So, in June 2025, the fuel and fuel vapour continue to be recovered from the ground, but frustratingly, there are still no answers from the Environment Agency, despite Sir Jeremy having all the key figures on speed dial. Will there ever be a criminal investigation?
Jezza now says he has arranged to meet the Chief Executive to find out why. We can hardly wait!
He says he had a meeting with the CEO of Openreach, Clive Selley, recently, to improve digital infrastructure for Bramley. Most have already found other ways to communicate, such as pigeons and smoke signals.
Openreach is now working on a new timetable for a full roll-out of full fibre in the Bramley area. So well done, Sir J – more roadworks on the A281 in Bramley. Is it any wonder poor old Byham wanted a bypass all those years ago to deal with the traffic from – yep, you guessed it. DUNSFOLD!
Cllr Ed Holliday said “‘Shouldn’t have been hard to find a massive fuel leak going into the waterways from the only fuel station for miles around
We have no idea if they have identified an ‘appropriate person’.We have no idea if they have served any remediation notices requiring the clean up.We have no idea if they are considering prosecution of anyone.
Great article as always.
That bypass is still on the table ,FB, but no-one thinks it’s a serious option. But that’s what was said about Bentley in Hants and they got one.
By the way only a few people, the 661 odd, got their £50 and it’s st Catherine’s senior that’s next to Asda.
Might I suggest the good people of Bramley the following.
For starters
“Small spills at gas stations could cause significant public health risks over time”
Date:
October 7, 2014
Source:
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Summary:
A new study suggests that drops of fuel spilled at gas stations — which occur frequently with fill-ups — could cumulatively be causing long-term environmental damage to soil and groundwater in residential areas in close proximity to the stations.
And now let’s get really rather technical. Necessary for you to get to grips with how serious the situation is for humans.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141227
And if that’s heavy going.
WebMED offers a summary
“Health Effects of Oil Spills”
Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO on September 26, 2023Written by Shishira Sreenivas
With studies now underway looking at Mental Health and gasoline spills.
Unfortunately things are far from over for Bramley and the compensation offered is unacceptable.
There needs to long term screening of the population.
MM
Why didn’t anyone carry out a gas test to determine that it was petroleum gas? Carrying out gas tests on a major oil refinery was included as part of my job description as a shutdown engineer. Lessons should be learned from these preventable losses, such as competent regulation prevents disaster and loss. Why do politicians seek deregulation, which internalises the knowledge gained from past failures to prevent public harm. “Only the unwise pay twice for a mistake.”