by, Simon Oldroyd
Update 2
This afternoon Simon Oldroyd and Peter Hayman from the TRRA committee, undertook a ‘walk around’ of the estate, with Tom Groombridge (of David Wilson Homes) and Ryan McGurk (Contracts Manager of EMG), to point out the faulty and damaged manhole covers, together with a review of the temporary works compound (next to the new play park), the planned infrastructure and drainage works, the estate landscaping, and the water attenuation mechanism that causes ‘Lake Caudwell’.
Briefly, the outcome is that Tom has agreed to:
- Undertake a general audit of manhole covers, as well as replacing or refitting the damaged ones already reported.
- Determine how the culvert on the west side of the estate can be cleaned out and ‘regraded’, to ensure that run-off from the farmer’s field flows, in the intended direction, into the new drainage pipes.
- Establish who owns the land at the top corner of Cadora Way (where the new ‘head-wall’ is planned, as part of the drainage works), so that a maintenance schedule can be established to keep the culvert clear.
- Determine how the deep culvert head-wall (on the estate boundary, behind the new play park) can be cleared out and fenced off for safety, (but retaining access for maintenance.)
- Come up with a solution to ‘sort out’ the bollards and knee rail at the lower end of Inwood Drive.
- Instruct EMG to inspect the drainage system that causes Lake Caudwell, and clear out all the silt again. (Apparently, there isn’t a ‘Hydro-brake’, there is only an ‘orifice plate’ which is designed, simply, to restrict the flow of water.) It seems likely that the cause of the ‘lake’ is therefore mainly silt, rather than a faulty mechanism!
- Provide a high level project plan, so that progress can be discussed, and monitored by the TRRA on a regular basis.
As part of the works agreed with Gloucestershire Highways (prior to adoption of the estate roads), Tom confirmed that various sections of the road and kerbs, will be re-laid or replaced by EMG whilst they are on site. It is still their intention to have all the infrastructure works completed by Christmas. One of EMG’s first jobs will be to regrade the pedestrian access to and from Oakfields, and fit the cycle chicane.
EMG also hope to keep the inevitable disruption in Cadora Way to a minimum, by undertaking the drainage works in sections.
A promising start (though a little behind schedule!)