PARWICH.ORG

Last night the village hall at Tissington was packed, with standing room only.  There were 5 representatives from Derbyshire County Council including the Highways Department, the Principle Engineer for Structure and the Senior Project Manager.  Our County Councillor Simon Spencer chaired the meeting with aplomb, allowing people sufficient time to pose their questions and air their grievances before either asking for a technical response from the Officers or promising to look into the issue and report back via letter.

The 8 properties sandwiched in the middle of the road closure near Woodeaves are clearly being badly effected at the moment.  They are faced with many inconveniences that make their journey at times impossible, because of current work at Horsley Farm landslip – the site of the original traffic lights just south of the Tissington Ford.

Impact for Parwich – a summary.

1. Work should start  just after the New Year with an approximate 20 week time-scale.  The road may open slightly earlier, before work is fully completed with traffic lights.
2. Alsop Lane to have the holes filled at the side where vehicles have to pass – sooner rather than later, this road to be salted in the winter and attention given to the verges in the early summer because of the dangers of visibility.
3. Brackendale Lane from Bradbourne to be salted and the cycle route posts to be more visible in the summer months because of the increase in vehicles needing to pass.

If nothing happens shortly we would encourage individuals to ring Call Derbyshire 08456 058 058 to report and press for urgent work to be carried out before damage is caused to cars and also to email Cllr Simon Spencer (email simon.spencer@derbyshire.gov.uk ) .

The meeting in detail.

Click here to see the slides used in the presentation.  This pdf file is quite large so it may take a couple of minutes to download.

Presentation.
The main landslip at Fenny Bently is part of a much older landslip complex and has had various repairs in the past.  During February and March 2009 a feasibility and desktop study was carried out before commencing on a full survey – but only on this section of the road.  The current slip is now 1800mm, almost 6 feet.

Ground investigations.
Investigations have been carried out, including the installation of 5 deep bore holes and trials in the surrounding wood and field – this equipment was to determine water levels and the depth of the slip plain.  The slip is on Bowland shale, on weak fissile mudstone with some interbedded sandstone and limestone, but susceptible to ground movement and weathering – so no quick fix.

4 Options.
1 & 2 – Realignment of the carriageway.
3.  Reinforced concrete masonry faced retaining wall.
4.  Single lane with traffic lights.

Option 3 was the favourite option, as there was the least risk of further movement, it was more environmentally friendly and no more expensive than some of the other options.

Timeline

• 10th August 2009 the landslip was still moving.
• 12th August  –  B5056 was closed.
• 26th October – Tenders went out.
• 20th November  – All tenders have to be returned.
• Within 2 weeks –  Acceptance of a tender.
• A 4 week mobilisation period for the contractor.
• Early January – Commencement of work.
• Approximately 20 weeks later the work will be completed and it may be possible to reopen the road before the contractors have finished.

At the Horsley Farm landslip, the site of the original traffic lights, work has already begun on this landslip.  With the road closed the Council has taken the opportunity to remove any trees near the road that posed a potential danger.  Work on the retaining wall should start in a couple of weeks, with the resurfacing to be completed by the end of January.

An estimated cost for work is £750,000; this includes the repairs to both landslips.  (Note, the County Council’s total highways budget is £28 million)

Question & Answer Session

There were a large number of questions, which we can’t report in full, but here is a summary of the topics and the answers:

The B5056 as a whole raised a number of issues:

• The need to widen the road at various locations, most particularly around the Fenny Bentley landslip was raised.  Here there are difficulties for lorries passing each other.  Also the problems of pedestrians and cyclist along this stretch were raised, particularly as the National Cycle Route may increase numbers of cyclists using the road.  The Council has no plans for any specific widening work.
• Some years ago there were plans to up grade the B5056 from Fenny Bentley to Longcliffe, but this is not likely to be reconsidered in the foreseeable future.
• The Council was asked if they had any plans to survey the whole of this route for other potential subsidence whilst the road was closed.  Although informally monitoring the situation, the Council has no plans for further specific investigations.
• Some years ago this road had been downgraded from an ‘A’ to a ‘B’ road, does this have implications for the maintaining and up grading of the road.  The council does not base its decisions on the classification of the road rather the level of use, so the ‘B’ road status does not impact on how the Council deals with this road.

The road works by Horsley Farm (where the temporary lights had been for some 3 years) prompted some heart-felt questions:

• There was a lot of concern about Health & Safety issues, with equipment, materials, etc left on the road without proper marking or warning.  This has been particularly problematic in the dark.  The County Council was initially reluctant to accept this was an issue, but when a number of people raised additional incidents, the Council’s commitment to Health & Safety was stressed along with a commitment to investigating this and ensuring no further incidents.  Any specific incidents caused by their sub-contractors must be reported by individuals.
• Concern was raised about work spanning both carriageways making access dangerous.
• The residents along the B5056 south of here expressed concern about the repeated closures of the road at this point.  This has prevented deliveries and professionals visiting the farms, as well as preventing residents getting through.  The Council stressed that contractors were instructed to always keep one carriageway open, and they will reiterate this with them.  Where these road closures have had financial implications, the individuals/businesses should raise this with Highways.

Salting and additional maintenance of the minor roads is required because of the increased traffic loads was raised by a number of people.

• The County Council is committed to maintaining the minor roads and will look into deterioration along the edges the metalled area of these single-track roads with pot holes and gullies.  Work is already planned, putting chatter in the holes along the edge of the Alsop Lane.
• It is not possible for the County Council to prevent vehicles going onto the grass and churning it up by the lane into Tissington from the Ford without consultation with the Estate, as they only own the metalled area.
• All the side roads off the B5056 from Tissington Ford north will be gritted, including Brackendale Lane (through Nether Bradbourne), the road from Tissington Ford and Alsop Lane through Parwich and Alsop en le Dale.  (Not sure if this will include the Dale Road from Parwich.)
• Extra salt will be available on the hill up from Tissington Ford so drivers can also add more themselves to cope with any freezing water carried up by vehicles from the Ford.
• Specific problems of Brackendale Lane were discussed relating to the speed of traffic, the national cycle route sharing the road, the wooden cycle route posts, as well as the overlapping issues above.  Locally concern was expressed that the planning of the cycle route had been done through the Peak Park, though this is outside the Park boundary.  The council felt additional speed restrictions do not help with out additional measures/enforcement, but were interested in exploring further the ‘Quiet lane’  idea.
• Specific problems relating to the cattle grid at Tissington Gates on the A515, are to be discussed outside the meeting.

Problems relating to the closure of the B5056:

• The issue of emergency vehicles not knowing about the closure and taking inappropriately long diversions.  This has only been a problem with ambulances so far.  The County Council have informed the Ambulance Service of the closure, but does not know how to ensure that information is passed on to individual drivers.  The Council does not feel it is appropriate to recommend specific alternative s because routes will vary according to where the ambulances come from and the condition of any patient on board.
• Residents expressed concern that there are no plans to grit the B5056 south of Tissington Ford whilst the closure is in place.  The Council confirmed that this was currently the case.  Residents reiterated their concern, especially as the reduced volume of traffic will mean snow and ice will remain longer.
• Concern was raised whether repairs to the Fenny Bentley landslip would still go ahead if the quotes came in substantially over what was anticipated.  The Council believe that this should not be a problem as the work will span two financial years
• Concern was raised about the lack of signage off the A515 for Leatherbritches Nursery and The Bentley Brook pub, this should be remedied immediately.  (Other A515 issues were discussed and are to be considered outside this meeting.)
• The fibre optic phone lines to Parwich run along the road.  The Council will require the successful contractors to submit details of how they will protect this during the road repairs.

Cllr Spencer (email simon.spencer@derbyshire.gov.uk ) stressed his personal commitment to ensuring that the B5056 is re-opened as soon as possible.  Furthermore he recognised that a lot of the issues raised still required responses, following further discussion and investigation by the Council.  He committed the Council to writing to Parish Councils, residents along the closed section and other interested parties with an update on the situation.

Reported by Jane B & Peter T.