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Mine shaft woes at new Falmouth development
10:50am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Falmouth/Penryn
Mine shaft woes at new Falmouth development Experts have been called in at a new housing development in Falmouth after a mineshaft opened up in a garden – leaving one woman too scared to let her granddaughter move in.
The hole, measuring approximately ten feet by ten feet, appeared in the garden of an as yet unfinished property at the lower end of the Tremorvah Heights development off Swanpool Road.
It has already been fenced off and capped with concrete.
But on Monday exploratory digging was underway in search of a possible second shaft – under the watchful gaze of a mining specialist.
With work to assess the scale of the problem still ongoing, the extent of the mine workings remains unclear. It is understood that a number of investigatory trenches will be dug to assess their extent.
Developers Linden Homes say they are working to ensure that the safety of residents has not been “compromised” in any way and to “ensure all warranties are valid”.
A spokesman for the firm said: “A mineshaft has been uncovered in a garden at Tremorvah Heights. The shaft was not identified on the mining plans provided by a local specialist mining company prior to the development commencing. This is on the basis that the site has been investigated through several mining searches spanning the last six years.
“As a result of recent findings, Linden Homes has already engaged the services of another mining specialist to investigate the area and provide the necessary remediation requirements.
“Although all foundations have been inspected by an independent specialist consultant, we are now also working closely with the National Homes Building Council (NHBC) to ensure all warranties are valid and to ensure that the safety of our residents has not been compromised.”
However for one grandmother arranging an affordable home for her granddaughter through Coastline Housing, the reassurances given so far are not enough.
Cynthia Wood said she had been told by her solicitors not to proceed until more is known, despite claiming she had been told it would be fine and that it would still be possible to get a mortgage on the property later.
She said: “I’m terrified to put them in. They say it is at the other end of the site and that it would be put right if there is a problem, but I am not prepared to risk my family’s life.”
A spokesman for Coastline said that as the problem had only come to light in the past two weeks they were working with the developer to keep people informed.
The spokesman added that there was no pressure to complete on purchases until people feel fully reassured by the remediation works taking place on site.
Sara Cynddylan, sales and marketing manager at Coastline Housing, told the Packet: “The mining works discovered are on a separate part of the development site to those properties purchased by Coastline. All of these properties have been reserved and buyers are aware of the current situation.”
She added that Coastline Housing is committed to delivering affordable housing and is working in partnership with Linden Homes to resolve this matter to the satisfaction of everyone involved.
The Packet understands that some of the finished units at Tremorvah Heights are now occupied, but these are at the other end of the site to the suspected mine workings.
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/fp ... velopment/
I've commented on the Overpopulation thread about the rash of new housing being built in Cornwall, which will no doubt turn up more cases like this. (But unknown mine shaft collapses are common here anyway - see earlier in this thread for examples.)
10:50am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Falmouth/Penryn
Mine shaft woes at new Falmouth development Experts have been called in at a new housing development in Falmouth after a mineshaft opened up in a garden – leaving one woman too scared to let her granddaughter move in.
The hole, measuring approximately ten feet by ten feet, appeared in the garden of an as yet unfinished property at the lower end of the Tremorvah Heights development off Swanpool Road.
It has already been fenced off and capped with concrete.
But on Monday exploratory digging was underway in search of a possible second shaft – under the watchful gaze of a mining specialist.
With work to assess the scale of the problem still ongoing, the extent of the mine workings remains unclear. It is understood that a number of investigatory trenches will be dug to assess their extent.
Developers Linden Homes say they are working to ensure that the safety of residents has not been “compromised” in any way and to “ensure all warranties are valid”.
A spokesman for the firm said: “A mineshaft has been uncovered in a garden at Tremorvah Heights. The shaft was not identified on the mining plans provided by a local specialist mining company prior to the development commencing. This is on the basis that the site has been investigated through several mining searches spanning the last six years.
“As a result of recent findings, Linden Homes has already engaged the services of another mining specialist to investigate the area and provide the necessary remediation requirements.
“Although all foundations have been inspected by an independent specialist consultant, we are now also working closely with the National Homes Building Council (NHBC) to ensure all warranties are valid and to ensure that the safety of our residents has not been compromised.”
However for one grandmother arranging an affordable home for her granddaughter through Coastline Housing, the reassurances given so far are not enough.
Cynthia Wood said she had been told by her solicitors not to proceed until more is known, despite claiming she had been told it would be fine and that it would still be possible to get a mortgage on the property later.
She said: “I’m terrified to put them in. They say it is at the other end of the site and that it would be put right if there is a problem, but I am not prepared to risk my family’s life.”
A spokesman for Coastline said that as the problem had only come to light in the past two weeks they were working with the developer to keep people informed.
The spokesman added that there was no pressure to complete on purchases until people feel fully reassured by the remediation works taking place on site.
Sara Cynddylan, sales and marketing manager at Coastline Housing, told the Packet: “The mining works discovered are on a separate part of the development site to those properties purchased by Coastline. All of these properties have been reserved and buyers are aware of the current situation.”
She added that Coastline Housing is committed to delivering affordable housing and is working in partnership with Linden Homes to resolve this matter to the satisfaction of everyone involved.
The Packet understands that some of the finished units at Tremorvah Heights are now occupied, but these are at the other end of the site to the suspected mine workings.
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/fp ... velopment/
I've commented on the Overpopulation thread about the rash of new housing being built in Cornwall, which will no doubt turn up more cases like this. (But unknown mine shaft collapses are common here anyway - see earlier in this thread for examples.)
