rotten garden wall rebuild and 11kV power cable

[oakysmokyjoky]

Hello. First post from me as I really need some wise words please.

We had a bloke come and replace our knackered brick garden walls with some 'treated' sleepers some years back which looked lovely. Needless to say they all rotted out within a few years and I want to do something myself or get a chap in. We get quite a bit of moisture from the slope/field above seeping down and through the greensand so I need something more resilient.

The existing blocks you can see have movement when I boot them so they need to come out to. I also want to make the 90 degree turn a bit wider in case I ever want to get a digger to the rear of the house or get a wheelchair round there. This photo is from the level rear of the house - which is up a double flight of concrete steps anyway - we are built into a hillside (this will be post #3)

The red arrow marks an 11kV power cable (which was sitting just behind the sleepers). It then wiggles underground up to the nice pole in our garden. Ignore this for now as I'm sure I can just brick it over. There are concrete footings already in place. Not sure of dimensions yet.

As the wall is less than 1m high at its tallest bit - as shown. I think a double thickness of brick or laid-flat block is going to be OK? Given the amount of moisture seeping through I assume engineering brick or F2/S2 brick is going to be preferable to concrete block as less permeable? Is that right? I also assume I should put some gravel etc behind the bricks/blocks to reduce hydrostatic pressure?

I don't want to render or coat them on the face as experience shows the frost (we are in frost shadow) just rips anything apart. I have at least 2 other posts to ask about along these lines!

Thank you in advance, Paul



me wise words please

 

[mattylad]

Wisest words I can give, no matter what you do and how careful you think your being - Be extremely careful around that 11KV cable.

 

[oakysmokyjoky]

Thanks mattylad. I've got SSE rocking up this morning. Tbh I'm not sure where they can stick that cable Let's forget that for the moment as I'm assuming SSE will deal with that. I'd really appreciate some views about the wall. I presume gabion baskets are an option here too? Thanks.

 

[Murdochcat]

I would ask them what THEY are going to do about it as it’s too near the surface and keep quiet until they decide

There’s a huge amount of supplies like this around and the suppliers might just improve it at little or no cost to you

Please let us know what they say

 

[oakysmokyjoky]

Thanks Murdochcat. That's the angle I'm going for. Not our fault the electricity folks did this back in mid 60s before the houses were built- but now its exposed by natural causes they need to do something. For now they've put a 'live' tag on it...so that's Ok then!

 

[oakysmokyjoky]

here's the fix then....!

 

[bernardgreen]

That cable looks too small for an 11kV service, Is there a transformer on the post that would be transforming 11kV down to a 230 V domestic supply to the house ?

 

[jj4091]

The only thing I would say is that instead of worrying about the porosity of any materials you will use ,and what I think should have been put behind the sleepers, is use a good damp proof membrane between the banking and wall. Also a big soak away would help if you can get a mini digger in. You could even build that cable into a cavity wall but not sure they would be too happy about that

 

[oakysmokyjoky]

That cable looks too small for an 11kV service, Is there a transformer on the post that would be transforming 11kV down to a 230 V domestic supply to the house ?

no - that's def the 11kV cable (c60 years old and counting). It runs past our house from the pole then across the back of 5 houses...before terminating in a sub station at the bottom of the close

 

[oakysmokyjoky]

The only thing I would say is that instead of worrying about the porosity of any materials you will use ,and what I think should have been put behind the sleepers, is use a good damp proof membrane between the banking and wall. Also a big soak away would help if you can get a mini digger in. You could even build that cable into a cavity wall but not sure they would be too happy about that

thanks. The whole house was built to save pennies - shocking bricks for house but especially the garden walls with cheapest possible bricks and certainly no dpm featured anywhere. I think its all hand work as not sure a digger will get up the garden steps though! Mind you they are only 4" or so thick - I'd quite like to hoik the steps out and put in a ramp....future proof it for if I need a wheelchair

 

[bernardgreen]

c60 years old and counting

In which case it creates a serious hazard. It is bad enough to have an 11kV cable exposed and accessible. How much information did SSE provide about the service ?

Does the cable feed into the substation or does the substation feed the cable to supply a remote user at the end of the overhead ( pole ) route ?

 

[oakysmokyjoky]

In which case it creates a serious hazard. It is bad enough to have an 11kV cable exposed and accessible. How much information did SSE provide about the service ?

Does the cable feed into the substation or does the substation feed the cable to supply a remote user at the end of the overhead ( pole ) route ?

thanks bernardgreen. I will be insisting SSE make this safe....and if that means them re-routing the thing and digging a proper trench duct and reinstating everything then that's what they'll do. I might just serve notice on them to remove the service as well. The cable is the main supply to the village. The poles and wires come over the fields, down to the pole in our garden, down the cable 'underground' then into the substation. I'd quite like the whole lot removed as its ugly and gets in the way of kite flying.....we've got used to it all over the years we've been ehre but the exposed cable is a bit much.

 

[MeldrewsMate]

There are companies around who specialise in getting compo for high voltage cabling running under domestic dwellings. I haven't used one, but see if the Powerline Advisory Group (based in Corby NN17) could help. SSE may well be open to negotiation to build your wall to suit you in lieu of compo. I have no more info about the Powerline Group....they may just be another bunch of ambulance chasing/PPI claiming lawyers.

 

[JohnD]

If they claim there is a signed wayleave giving them permission, demand to see a copy and ask why they haven't paid you.

I happen to know that wayleave archives are very poor.

 

[oakysmokyjoky]

I've been round the houses with a couple of firms promising cash for wayleaves - even though I said paperwork was all there already. Unfortunately a big dead-end after a couple of years waiting as everything was signed and sealed from 1968. I've got a copy of the wayleave agreement and plan and all rights etc for ever were exchanged for the princely sum of £5. So, I will wait and see what solution SSE come up with, update this board and then carry on with trying to find out what to do with the wall if SSE hasn't sorted it for me