Mabey Hire portable monitoring enviroguard

Environmental monitoring key to iconic power station demolition

Fiddlers Ferry, Warrington

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Project Overview

Location	Fiddlers Ferry, Warrington
Sector	Power & Energy
Products	Insite real-time monitoring Portable Vibration Monitor Enviroguard

After being acquired by Peel NRE in 2022, parts of Warrington’s Fiddler’s Ferry power station were demolished at the end of 2023, including four of the cooling towers. P.P. O’Connor were contracted to carry out these demolition works, with our environmental monitoring playing a key role in protecting the neighbouring residential areas and sensitive infrastructure.

The challenge

Environmental Impact

The demolition of such large concrete structures posed a major risk of airborne dust, requiring extensive control measures to protect surrounding communities and the environment.

Vibration and Proximity Risks

With a nearby chemical factory, it was critical to monitor and manage vibration levels to prevent any structural or operational impact on neighbouring industrial facilities.

Community Considerations

The site’s proximity to residential areas meant strict management of noise, dust, and safety during demolition, ensuring minimal disruption to local residents and businesses.

Our solution

To ensure full compliance with Section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, P.P. O’Connor partnered with Mabey Hire to implement its Enviroguard real-time monitoring solution.

The system was configured to continuously track dust, noise, and vibration levels around the demolition site, providing crucial data to maintain safe working conditions and minimise environmental impact. Six Enviroguard units, each containing all three types of sensors, were strategically positioned around the site to capture accurate readings across all critical areas.

Learn more about Environmental monitoring

Once operational, the system delivered instant alerts whenever pre-set thresholds were exceeded, enabling the team to take immediate corrective action. All data was accessible through Mabey Hire’s Insite portal, allowing for easy review and transparent reporting to key stakeholders, including Peel NRE and local authorities.

The collaboration with Mabey Hire’s dedicated technical team, including regular site visits from their Senior Monitoring Engineer, ensured the equipment functioned optimally throughout the works. The approach proved so effective that P.P. O’Connor purchased additional Enviroguard units for use on future projects. Phase one of the Fiddler’s Ferry demolition was completed successfully in December 2023, with phase two scheduled for 2025.

Get in touch

“We found working with Mabey Hire really easy; its knowledgeable and dedicated team were always on hand to assist, with Allan Martin, their Senior Monitoring Engineer, specifically coming to site regularly to ensure everything was in place.”

Nikki Rowen

Health and Safety Manager / P.P. O’Connor