Grangemouth residents' piling woes to hit home again

Piling work for the new Earls Gate Energy Centre will once again be driving Grangemouth residents to distraction.
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Construction of CalaChem's new £210m Earls Gate Energy Centre is ongoing and that means more piling work will take from Monday next week.

According to French construction firm CNIM, Earls Gate Energy Centre, located in the town’s Earls Gate Park development, completion of the piling work was delayed due to “unforeseen technical difficulties”.

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A CNIM spokesperson said: “Construction on site is progressing well and we are reaching the final phases of piling work to lay deep foundations into the ground. Over recent weeks we have had to undertake a programme of steel piling, which is, unfortunately, noisy.

Construction on the new Earls Gate Energy Centre continues on land near Caledon Green, GrangemouthConstruction on the new Earls Gate Energy Centre continues on land near Caledon Green, Grangemouth
Construction on the new Earls Gate Energy Centre continues on land near Caledon Green, Grangemouth

“In our initial construction programme we predicted this type of piling would be over by mid-September. However, due to unforeseen technical difficulties and design changes, we are unfortunately going to have to recommence steel piling for approximately 12 days starting on October 12.

“The next round of steel piling is essential in order for us to complete the foundation of the facility’s main turbine generator unit.”

The firm states the piling will take place between 8am and 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturday.

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“We have decided to reduce the daily schedule from wight piles per day to five to reduce the noise disturbance,” said the CNIM spokesperson. “We are very sorry to have to start steel piling again and we do sincerely apologise for any disturbance this may cause.”

The last round of piling was not well received by Grangemouth residents.

“It sounds like a constant dripping tap in my wall,” said one householder last month. “God knows what it must sound like for people who live closer.”

The project aims to construct a facility to replace an existing gas-fired energy plant that has come to the end of its operating life, will provide heat and power to firms like nearby CalaChem and local industry, while exporting surplus electricity to the National Grid.

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CNIM say commissioning of the facility is due to start next year and the plant is expected to be fully operational in mid-2022, creating around 30 operational jobs which will be full-time, permanent positions with full training offered.

Visit www.earlsgateconstruction.co.uk for more information on the piling or to contact the project.