by, Simon Oldroyd
Last Thursday (21 January), the TRRA committee had another on-line meeting with Tom Groombridge, who is the DWH project manager responsible for the completion works currently on-going across the estate.
I’ve summarised below, the key details that came out from the meeting:
- Broken drain covers. DWH have promised to get all of these replaced. They are also looking into the replacement of all pedestrian-rated covers that are installed on driveways. An action plan should be in place by the end of this month.
- Pedestrian access to Oakfields. As most of you will have seen, this has now been ‘regraded’ and the cycle chicane metal posts are expected to arrive within the next week or so. Once they have been installed, the top coat of tarmac will be laid. We understand that the council will then undertake to fit a dropped kerb from the pavement into the road (for pushchairs and disabled access.)
- Cadora Way new drainage project. Thankfully, this is now in its final stages and DWH’s groundworks contractor, EMG, has promised to have all works completed by Friday 12th February (if not before.)
As part of this work, the old filter drain (adjoining the farmer’s field on the north west corner of the estate), has now been completely removed, and a new open ditch has been dug to catch water coming off the field. Water appears to be flowing quite well down this new drain, although it is very important to keep this ditch clear of any garden cuttings (or anything else!) We have also asked DWH to consider reinforcing the banks of the ditch, to prevent them from collapsing inwards.
The Highways Inspector has determined that this whole section of Cadora Way is to have all tarmac removed down to the base course, and is then to be completely re-surfaced.
- Further drainage works. The re-grading of the open culvert on the south west corner of the estate and clearance of the silted up twin-wall culvert (also on this boundary) will commence on Monday 1st February. This is intended to ensure that the water coming off the Natural Burial Ground and the adjacent field, flows towards the new Cadora Way drainage system, rather than causing flooding into Oakfields and St John’s Primary School. (This work will affect only the residents of 77 to 81 Blakes Way.) See also the report on Flooding Issues here.
- Remaining completion works. These will commence after the re-surfacing on Cadora Way, and will include the replacement of some kerb stones, road drain covers, and the repair of road sections and footpaths where they have sunk. The completion works will include remedying the subsidence under the road bricks at the top of Blakes Way (nearest the entrance), which will inevitably cause some problems with access. During these works, traffic will be diverted on to the pedestrian footpath, so please take extra care whilst this work is being undertaken. The contractors will of course try to avoid un-necessary disruption, and the work has been scheduled to be complete within a few days of its commencement.
- Landscaping. This part of the completion work (involving planting all the missing trees, bushes and shrubs!) is scheduled to commence next month. The public open spaces will be done first.
- Health and Safety Risk Assessment. This has now been booked to take place within the next two weeks. This will focus mainly on the issues surrounding the dangers of Lake Caudwell, but will also encompass the dangerous drop into the old headwall and drainage culvert next to the new play-park area. Linked to this, we have some really good news – Lake Caudwell is scheduled to be drained this week. This will allow the orifice plate to be inspected and cleaned of silt etc, and to ascertain what can be done to improve the current problem of the standing water not draining away as it is supposed to.
On a final note, over the next few weeks you may also see some Highways people around the estate, as a ‘Road Safety Audit’ is also going to take place.
Although it might appear that things have been ‘hard going’, we are making good progress and we’re maintaining maximum pressure on DWH to get everything finally sorted. We’ve scheduled another meeting with them in two weeks, to ensure that everything is hitting the timescales that they’ve promised, and all the works should be completed very shortly.
We hope that you are all keeping safe and coping okay with the current lockdown, despite all the personal difficulties that derive from it. Please let us have any heart-warming stories, or photos that you are happy to share, and we will try to publish them on the website!