Experts probe 300ft- deep mine shaft in Newton road
Last updated at 12:56, Thursday, 17 May 2012
EXPERTS investigating a gaping hole which has caused a road to be closed for more than two years are due to report their findings.
The hole over old mine workings on a narrow section of Newton Cross Road at Woodbine was first reported in November 2009.
The road was shut by Cumbria County Council in April 2010, with barriers and warning bollards placed either side, and has remained closed ever since.
A meeting of Dalton with Newtown Town Council was told specialist contractors are assessing the hole, which is believed to be more than 300 feet deep.
Gary Thomas, the highways programme manager for Capita, attended the meeting in Dalton Town Hall to answer questions on highways issues in Dalton and Newton.
He told the councillors and concerned Woodbine residents in attendance that a comprehensive report on the findings of the investigation would be handed to the county council before the end of the month.
When asked by Councillor Wendy Maddox if the road could be closed for good, Mr Thomas said that was still unclear and it would depend on the findings of the report.
Mr Thomas told the meeting on Monday evening: “They are still on track to report back to us at the end of next week and we will be able to take a detailed report back to the Cumbria County Council local committee.
“We have got to be patient. We are on site and making detailed investigations now and looking at the mining records and taking equipment down to find the extent of the problem.
“We will hopefully have a lot more details in the next few weeks.”
Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock took up the residents’ cause in February this year when he demanded urgent action from the county council.
The blockage means Woodbine residents must make a detour, along a busier route, to get to Newton.
Residents have previously expressed concerns over potential issues for emergency services and access to Newton School.
First published at 13:21, Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Why not ivite the area's local builders to tip their rubble into this hole, vibrate it compact and keep filling until concrete and black top finishes the job, a bit of nous & this could have been done & dusted by know.
Ex BBC road crew managerView all 4 comments on this article
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I have searched the mail to see if we had another earthquake on the evening of the 31st of November 2012,I have seen no report's of this ,yet residents from Holygate Road to Station Rd in Dalton, heard a load bang and our houses rumbled around 10 o clock last night, I remember my Grandad telling me this estate was built on old mine shafts and one runs from Holygate road to Langdale cresent,could this have been the cause! If the mines are moving below ground due to the heavy rain we have had, plus the flooding on Newton rd have any connection?
Posted by Mrs Vivien Hamilton on 1 November 2012 at 18:34