Aldbrough Gas Storage

The Aldbrough Gas Storage Facility is one of the UK’s newest onshore gas storage facilities, which SSE (66.6% share) has developed with Equinor (formerly Statoil). The last of the nine caverns at the Aldbrough facility entered commercial operation in November 2012, meaning that the site is now fully operational. The facility continues to operate with high availability to meet commercial requirements and on the 23 January 2013, Aldbrough saw a record level of output, with over 18mcm of gas exported to the National Transmission System that day - equivalent to the average daily consumption of around 4 million homes.

The Aldbrough facility already represents a major strategic contributor to the national storage of gas within the UK and it is important that the local community stands to benefit as part of that. As part of our planning consent back in 2006, we made a commitment to hold a regular Community Liaison Group (CLG) made up of local representatives, which members of the public are welcome to observe.

The CLG currently meets biannually to ensure that operation of the Aldbrough Gas Storage facility, the developer / operator and the community work together to minimise the impact of the facility on its neighbours. Fundamental to this role, the CLG needs to promote open and honest communication between all parties.

Members of the CLG include:

• Michael Gillatt – SSE – Head of Site Operations
• Roseann Hughes – SSE – Liaison Manager
• Cllr Peter Turner – East Riding of Yorkshire Council (Ward Councillor)
• Kevin Blackwell – Aldbrough Parish Council
• Tim Floater – Aldbrough Parish Council
• Mick Robinson – Aldbrough Sports Hall
• Avril Crawforth – East Garton Parish Council
• Steve Mattinson – East Garton Parish Council
• Julie Dickinson-Shaw – St. Michael’s Church
• Billie-Jean Henry –represents local horse users
• Stuart Allen – Aldbrough School

The minutes from recent CLG meetings are available below.

• 22/10/2020 – Community Liaison Group minutes
• 10/10/2019 - Community Liason Group minutes
• 25/04/2019 - Community Liason Group minutes
• 18/10/2018 - Community Liaison Group minutes
• 12/04/2018 - Community Liaison Group minutes
• 20/10/2017 - Community Liaison Group minutes
• 30/03/2017 - Community Liaison Group minutes

St. Michael’s Wood was provided by the owners of the Aldbrough Gas Storage facility. It was planted during the winter/spring of 2013, by Heritage Hedging, a local contractor based a few miles away in Burton Pidsea. 17,395 trees were planted to create an area of woodland of approximately 29 ha. A number of different species of tree were planted, including Oak, Sycamore, Hornbeam, Aspen, Willow and Pine. The woodland also contains a number of broadleaves including Rowan, Wild Cherry, Field Maple, Alder and Birch. Woodland shrubs such as Hazel, Guelder Rose, Dogwood and Hawthorn are also present. A wetland area, 0.73 acres in size has also been created.

A competition was held for local school children to come up with a name for the wood. The final name for the wood was suggested by Stanley McDermott, aged 9 of Sproatley Primary School. The Aldbrough Gas Storage Community Liaison Group chose the winning entry.