Another attempt has been made to tap into Esso’s Midline fuel pipeline – this time near Wootton Rivers. By Saturday morning (October 25) the pipeline had been repaired. But there was still a disctinct smell of fuel oil near the pit dug so Esso’s engineers could make the repair.
The site of the attempt to tap the pipeline can be seen from the road running north from Easton Cross Roads to Ram Alley.
A by-way leading off the road between Wootton Rivers and Ram Alley was closed on Thursday (October 22) as a forensic team from Wiltshire Police and members of the Wiltshire fire service investigated an incident of criminal damage.
The police told Marlborough News Online: “Wiltshire Police, working with colleagues from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, are currently investigating an incident involving criminal damage on a by-way near to Wootton Rivers, Marlborough. Enquiries are continuing.”
Later on Friday evening, in a statement to Marlborough News Online, Esso made it clear this was an attempt to interfere with the pipeline and had interrupted the flow of fuel from Fawley to the Midlands: “Esso has detected criminal damage on the Midline pipeline that transports fuel from Fawley Refinery near Southampton to the Birmingham Fuel Terminal. Esso has temporarily isolated and shut down the relevant section of pipeline to make repairs.”
“Esso is committed to the very highest standards of safety and our pipeline specialists are working to resume Midline operations as soon as it is safe to do so. Alternative supply arrangements are in place. We do not currently anticipate an impact on customers.”
“We strongly condemn the highly dangerous criminal action by those involved and are working closely with the police in their investigations.”
The Esso Midline pipeline crosses under the Kennet and Avon Canal about half-a-mile north-east of the locks at Wootton Rivers.
This 130-mile Midline Pipeline that connects the Fawley refinery to Birmingham Airport, Birmingham and Seisdon in Staffordshire, was built in 1985. It crosses the Marlborough Downs and continues southwards towards the parish of Easton, passing close to Everleigh.
Earlier this year, an attempt to steal fuel from this pipeline on Manton Down ended in disaster when a farmer’s plough cut through the pipe the thieves had attached to the tap they made into the pipeline. Work is still underway to clear up that spillage.
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