This area contains the following information about Monitoring Marsh Gas levels in Hastings 2009-10:
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From 2009-10, we're carrying out a monthly monitoring programme to assess how much Marsh Gas is being produced, where it is most prevalent and how it varies with weather. We'll be testing to see what Marsh Gas levels are like beneath the ground, if any gas is seeping through the surface of the ground and if any of the airspaces in our various buildings have been contaminated in any way.
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The area around Hastings Town Centre between White Rock Cliff to the West, Castle Hill to the East, the railway station to the North and the seafront to the South is a former low lying river valley. In the 1800s, Hastings expanded rapidly and the valley was completely drained. After the arrival of the railways in 1846, rubble from the tunnels was tipped across the valley and was built upon. The decay of organics in the silt beneath all this material may be producing Marsh Gas which is flammable and can, if it accumulates in significant volume, form explosive mixtures (although it's important to stress that the risk is very low).
Past excavations carried out during works by our partners Southern Water and other contractors over the years have detected traces of this gas. We commissioned our own report in 2005 which showed that Marsh Gas was present but at differing levels across multiple locations with levels affected significantly by weather conditions.
Our 2009-10 monitoring programme will give us a more thorough insight into the situation and tell us what needs to be done next.
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Results may support further monitoring in sensitive private properties. Sensitive properties may include those with cellars, underground service provision and those in areas where Marsh Gas is most prevalent. In the longer term and, subject to adequate funding, deeper semi-permanent probes or boreholes may need to be installed. Protective and preventative measures may need to be installed such as installation of gas alarms in sensitive properties and basement sealing in at risk properties.
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Please be assured that there is a very low risk of a serious Marsh Gas problem in Hastings and that we're carrying out this programme as part of a 'safe rather than sorry' approach. Regular updates on the report will be published on this web page but if you need more information, don't hesitate to contact us.
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This page last updated: 18/06/2009