Council awards contract for Jackfield Stabilisation Project
Telford & Wrekin Council has awarded the Enabling Works contract for the Jackfield Stabilisation Project.
The funding for the project has been secured from the Department for Communities and Local Government, who will make a multi million pound contribution to the scheme. This funding is being part matched by Telford & Wrekin Council.
The stabilisation will be concentrated in Jackfield between Jackfield Tile Museum and the Boat Inn – an area which has suffered significant landslides in the past.
The Enabling Works contract has been awarded to local contractor McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd who will start work shortly. This follows a national procurement process.
A public drop in session will be held on February 4. This will include a presentation to provide a project update and to explain delivery of the project in more detail.
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.
Council engineers will continue to monitor the ongoing ground movement, water levels, ground gas levels and groundwater quality throughout the works.
Engineers are also carrying out structural surveys of properties within the vicinity of the works.
A Stakeholder Group meets regularly and the council’s engineers attend to liaise with and update members.
The Enabling Works constitutes the first phase of works and comprise ecological mitigation works, tree felling, site clearance and preparation for the main works.
The main works contract will comprise earthworks, treatment of mine workings, piling, river bank protection, drainage improvements, highway construction and landscaping and will be awarded at a later date.
The council has committed its resources to this essential project as part of its ongoing commitment to manage the issue of land instability in so doing safeguard the residents of and visitors to the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site.
Councillor Richard Overton, cabinet lead for Ironbridge Gorge stabilisation, said: “I’m really pleased that we have managed to secure this significant amount of funding from the DCLG.
“Instability is a fact in the Gorge and these works are essential to help prevent landslides and maintain the structure of the Gorge both in the short and the long term.
“We are grateful for the co-operation of the project stakeholders who we meet with regularly and look forward to getting these works under weay and making the area better for all who use it.”
