The Environment Agency continues to investigate a giant sink hole which has recently appeared above the HS2 tunnel in the beautiful part of the Chilterns.
Residents in the area where alarmed when the hole suddenly appeared on Saturday May 13 in Bazzards Field on the southwest side of Shardeloes Lake. However, although the site was immediately sealed off for safety reasons, further tunnelling work continued as the ground collapse was above a finished section of tunnel. One resident said “why are we damaging our beautiful countryside for a train which is costing taxpayers billions of pounds and causing catastrophes within our beautiful environment?”
The Environment Agency and the contractors (a joint venture of Align JV which included Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick) immediately notified the land owner as soon as they became aware of the incident.
The hole is estimated to be around six meters wide and five meters deep according to HS2 contractor Align JV, who sent a letter to some residents near the site before it was fenced off.
However, residents in the area are extremely concerned that more sinkholes will appear and that the aquifer (lake) which provides 20 million people with water in the South East could be compromised especially as there has been 2 recent sinkholes in Ruislip.
Chesham and Amersham MP Sarah Green visited the lakeside on Sunday, which feeds into River Misbourne.
She said: “I attended the site earlier this afternoon and have spoken to residents and businesses local to it to understand their precise concerns. I am seeking full disclosure from the Environment Agency and HS2.”
A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd confirmed that “a ground movement has occurred within a field above the Chiltern tunnels.”
“Investigations are ongoing, but this is likely to be linked to pre-existing ground conditions above the tunnels linked to weak points in the Chalk ground known as dissolution features. The site has been sealed off and there is no risk to the public.”
#HS2 #VolkerFitzpatrick #SirRobertMcAlpine #AlignJV #Sinkhole #Environmentagency
Image credit catherine bunting