Jackfield stabilisation work continues
Work to manage land instability in and around the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site is continuing say Telford & Wrekin Council.
Work has recently concentrated on an area between the Tile Museum and the Boat Inn, an area that has suffered significant landslides in the past.
Telford & Wrekin council says the project has now reached the stage where the preliminary design is complete and detailed final designs are now being undertaken.
The proposed scheme looks to stabilise the most active part of the local landslide system to allow a new highway to be constructed on the stabilised ground.
Three drop-in sessions have taken place to allow stakeholders to view the proposals and comment on the outputs from the preliminary design process and the results from the ongoing surveys and investigations. The last event was held on 16 April at Jackfield Village Hall where over 100 people attended, with nearly 200 people attending in total over the three events.
A further drop-in session will be held in July to present the detailed design once finalised.
The ground investigation involves several boring and drilling rigs sinking a number of boreholes to investigate the soils and rocks beneath the area. The boreholes also allow an assessment of the extent of past underground mining.
Water sampling for the testing and monitoring of ground movement is also taking place using the boreholes.
The results of the investigations will shape and deliver the final design which will also include further consultation with a number of stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
The scheme will comprise earthworks, treatment of mine workings, piling, river bank protection, drainage improvements highway construction and landscaping.
The final design package will be incorporated into the planning application which will be submitted this summer. Stabilisation works will then need to be completed in early 2016 due to the funding secured from Central Government.
Councillor Richard Overton, cabinet member for Borough Town Development and Policy, said: “This is major work that is taking place as part of the ongoing project to stabilise the land at the Jackfield end of the Gorge.
“Since 2001, Telford & Wrekin Council has spent more than £16 Million on tackling land instability in the Gorge, and this combined with £12 Million government funding is enabling us to carry out this complex technical project.”
