Work is due to start early next year on a £4.3million project to carry out further investigations and stabilisation works to homes in the Field Road and Coley District, which may be built on land where historical chalk mining took place.
Land which lies underneath more than fifty properties in the Field Road & Coley District area will be investigated during the project, which is being funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) following a successful bid by Reading Borough Council. The properties are all sited within a Derelict Land Clearance Order Area (DLCOA) and therefore qualify for 100 per cent funding.
Phase 3 of the long-running project will include further detailed ground investigations of the land in the area, involving borehole drillings and dynamic probing techniques. Following this investigative work, properties will be stabilised if necessary.
Some disruption to residents is expected as heavy plant machinery will be needed to carry out some of the work. Temporary parking arrangements and some temporary road closures may be necessary, depending on what work is needed. The Council will also seek householders’ permission for the contractors to access their land and carry out the investigations.
The investigations into historic chalk mines in the area are long term. Historical Ordnance Survey and Tithe maps dating back to 1802 showed there were a number of historic brick, tile and pottery works in Field Road and adjacent streets. Brickworks were also located in Coley Park and Deepdene Close. Investigations were prompted by the collapse of ground in Field Road in January 2000.
For more information on the Field Road and Coley District Project go to www.reading.gov.uk/fieldroad or contact Tim Abbott in the HCA press office on 0118 902 8441 / tim.abbott@hca.gsx.gov.uk
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