Jackfield Stabilisation contract awarded to local company
Telford & Wrekin Council has awarded the main works contract for the Jackfield Stabilisation Project to local contractor McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd.
The funding for the project has been secured from the Department for Communities and Local Government, who will make a multi pound contribution for the scheme.
This funding is being part matched by Telford & Wrekin Council with the overall package of works costing £17.6m.
The stabilisation will be concentrated in an area which has suffered significant landslides in the past between Jackfield Tile Museum and the Boat Inn.
The proposed scheme aims to stabilise the most “active” area of ground to allow a new highway to be constructed on the stabilised ground. This will run between the end of the Tile Museum and a point near Maws Craft Centre to replace the existing road.
Council engineers will continue to monitor the ongoing ground movement, water levels, ground gas levels and groundwater quality throughout the works.
As expected, recent heavy rain, high groundwater levels and flooding have caused further ongoing ground movement to take place on site.
Engineers are also carrying out structural surveys of properties within the vicinity of the works.
The Enabling Works – also awarded to McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd – constitutes the first phase of works and has included ecological mitigation works, tree felling, site clearance and preparation for the main works.
The main works contract will start later this month and will comprise of earthworks, treatment of mine workings, piling, river bank protection, drainage improvements, highway construction and landscaping.
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 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 way and making the area better for all who use it.”
