Jiggers Bank to remain closed until June
Jiggers Bank is to remain closed until early summer after a number of rockfalls in November 2012 following a period of wet and cold weather.
Telford & Wrekin Council today said due to the scale of works required to stabilise the area, Jiggers Bank will remain closed until June.
Since the closure in November, engineers have carried out emergency safety works, topographical surveys, ecological surveys and ground investigation works to provide information for a design to stabilise the rockface.
The proposed solution will include regrading the rockface, earthworks, installing netting and anchors and landscaping of the site. A planning application has been lodged for these works.
The site includes land in different ownerships and the owners are in discussion on the design and delivery of the scheme.
Work is also due to start this month in Church Hill, Ironbridge, to stabilise the highway. This work is expected to take about three months to complete under a full road closure.
Pedestrian access will be maintained to the adjacent properties. The start of the Church Hill work has been delayed by the recent ice and snow. The works include piling adjacent to the road and the construction of a new retaining wall to replace an existing damaged structure.
The Jackfield Stabilisation Project is continuing with ground investigation planned for later in February and the initial design is in progress. The public are invited to the second drop in session on Tuesday 12 February at Jackfield Village Hall between 2-8pm to get updates on the project and to comment on the current proposals.
Councillor Hilda Rhodes, cabinet member for Transport and Community Protection, said: “I would like to apologise to residents in the Ironbridge Gorge for the disruption that all these necessary works are causing.
“We completely understand the urgency to get Jiggers Bank re-opened as soon as practically possible but we are faced with a unique and serious situation in terms of devising a sustainable solution to secure the rockface.
“I hope residents understand the necessity of us taking our time to get it right and that a quick fix could only make the situation worse. The safety of road users is our top priority.
“I would ask people to be patient and thank them for their understanding while this is put in place and a proper process gone through.”
