Highbarns chalk mines
Following the discovery of abandoned chalk mine workings in the Highbarns area in 2007, the area has been treated and stabilised, with the final report available in the published technical reports section below.
Click on the items below each heading for further information.
Background information
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Background information on the mines
Chalk mining was carried out in Hertfordshire from the 1700s to the 1900s. Mined chalk was used for a number of different purposes.
The first sign that there might be chalk mines in the Nash Mills area came in May 2007, when there was a partial ground collapse in a garden (now established to have been caused by a shaft collapse). At that time, Hertfordshire County Council, in consultation with us, commissioned a specialist consultant to assess the condition of the land within a 50-metre radius of the affected site. This assessment involved a geological survey and an investigation of historical activity on the site in order to establish the cause of the incident and establish if any further remedial work was needed.
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The extent of the mines
The chalk mine was located around the road junction of Highbarns, Pond Road, Meadow Road and East Green.
The area that we have data on extends 50 metres around the point where we believe the access shaft was.
We commissioned further geological surveys around the area. The results confirmed the initial findings regarding the location and extent of the mine.
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What work was carried out?
The initial collapse in 2007 caused damage to the garden of a property in Highbarns, so the repair work and stabilisation costs were covered by the property owner's insurance company.
A nearby mine, which was discovered beneath the road and pathway, was found to need urgent filling. We funded this urgent work, which was completed in 2008.
Between 2008 and 2011 we coordinated the work to secure funding from central government to fully investigate and repair the mines. Funding was approved by the Homes and Communities Agency in November 2011, and, following the surveys, work was undertaken to treat the mine. The complexity of the mine and the conditions of the ground meant that the treatment required was much more extensive than predicted. Altogether some 8,300 cubic metres of material (equivalent to 83 double decker buses) has been used to treat the mine - over four times as much as originally estimated based on works undertaken at similar sites elsewhere.
In October 2013, a further ground collapse at the junction of Highbarns and Meadow Road, meant that the treatment works had to be extended further still. This treatment has been completed and a final treatment report is available in the published technical reports section below.
Letters and reports
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Published technical report
Highbarns Stabilisation Treatment Report December 2015 (PDF 1.6MB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 1-3 Pond Rd (PDF 840KB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 2-8 Pond Road (PDF 774KB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 5-11 Pond Road (PDF 847KB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 10-12 Pond Road (PDF 747KB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 5-15 Highbarns (PDF 1.04MB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 14-24 Highbarns (PDF 785KB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 30-32 Highbarns (PDF 759KB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 25-27 East Green (PDF 759KB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 28-30 East Green (PDF 805KB)
Treatment Area Report for Highbarns Meadow Road (PDF 1.48MB)
Treatment Area Report for Nos 2-8 Meadow Road (854KB)
Treatment Area Report for Highbarns East Green Pond Rd junction (PDF 1.13MB)
Highbarns CALS Survey Report June 2011 (PDF 3.33MB) -
Letters and correspondence sent to local residents
Highbarns newsletter October 2015 (PDF 221KB)
Highbarns newsletter September 2015 (PDF 211KB)
Highbarns newsletter June 2015(PDF 278KB)
BAM Ritchies newsletter no. 12 - June 14 (PDF 125KB)
Highbarns letter to residents - June 2014 (PDF 101 KB)
BAM Ritchies newsletter no. 11 - February 14 (PDF 70KB)
BAM Ritchies newsletter no. 10 - Christmas 2013(PDF 124KB)
BAM Ritchies newsletter no. 9 - December 13 (PDF 185KB)
BAM Ritchies newsletter no. 8 - October 13 (PDF 201KB)
Funding continuation letter 15 July 2013 (PDF 147KB)
BAM Ritchies newsletter no. 5 - June 2013(PDF 147KB)
BAM Ritchies newsletter no. 4 - May 2013 (PDF 137KB)
Letter accompanying notes of residents group meeting on 26 March 2013 (PDF 143KB)
BAM Ritchies newsletter no. 3 - April 2013 (PDF 125KB)
BAM Ritchies newsletter no. 2 - March 2013(PDF 148KB)
Highbarns letter to residents - February 2013 (PDF 152KB)
BAM ritchies newsletter no.1 - February 2013 (PDF 122KB)
Letter to Chambersbury Lane residents 7 - January 2013 (PDF 96KB)
Map accompanying letter to Chambersbury Lane residents 7 - January 2013 (PDF 178KB)
Nash Mills chalk mines news issue 9 - December 2012 (PDF 2.01MB)
Letter for insurance companies (accompanied issue 9) (PDF 56KB)
Nash Mills chalk mines news issue 8 - June 2012 (PDF 149KB)
Highbarns letter to residents - January 2012(PDF 100KB)
Highbarns letter to residents - November 2011(PDF 116KB)
Highbarns residents Q & A sheet - November 2011(PDF 28KB)
Nash Mills (Highbarns) chalk mines issue 7 - October 2010 (PDF 456KB)
Letter for insurance and mortgage companies (accompanied issue 7) (PDF 92KB)
Nash Mills chalk mines news issue 6 - December 2009 (PDF 2.06MB)
Nash Mills chalk mines news issue 5 - September 2009 (PDF 380KB)
Nash Mills chalk mines news issue 4 - June/July 2009 (PDF 437KB)
Nash Mills chalk mines news issue 3 - April/May 2009 (PDF 267KB)
Nash Mills chalk mines news issue 2 - January - March 2009 (PDF 604KB)
Nash Mills chalk mines news issue 1 - November - December 2008 (PDF 77KB)
Advice note for householders (PDF 268KB) -
Public and residents' meetings
Notes from Highbarns residents group meeting - 19 November 2013 (PDF 442KB)
Public meeting - progress update by BAM Ritchies - 4 July 2013 (PDF 300KB) -copy of the presentation shown at the public meeting.
Notes from Highbarns residents group meeting - 5 June 2013 (PDF 141KB)
Notes from Highbarns residents group meeting - 26 March 2013 (PDF 22KB)
Questions and answers from Highbarns residents group meeting - 19 December 2012 (PDF 22KB)
Map accompanying questions and answers document - 19 December 2012 (PDF 2.01MB)
Public meeting - presentation by Hyder - 20 September 2012 (PDF 648KB) - copy of the presentation shown at the public meeting
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 13 June 2012 (PDF 41KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 2 May 2012 (PDF 31KB)
Public meeting - presentation by Hyder - 15 February 2012 (PDF 1.27MB) - copy of the presentation shown at the public meeting
Public meeting agenda and contacts - 15 February 2012(PDF 56KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 15 December 2011 (PDF 22KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 20 July 2011 (PDF 24KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 22 March 2011 (PDF 72KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 16 November 2010 (PDF 76KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 21 September 2010 (PDF 66KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 15 December 2009 (PDF 21KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 13 October 2009 (PDF 37KB)
Public presentation by Hyder - 5 October 2009 (PDF 670KB) - copy of the presentation shown at the second public meeting
Public meeting notes - 5 October 2009 (PDF 132 KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 22 September 2009 (PDF 20KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 28 July 2009 (PDF 35KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 21 April 2009 (PDF 22KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 17 March 2009 (PDF 36KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 11 February 2009 (PDF 30KB)
Highbarns residents group meeting notes - 20 January 2009 (PDF 31KB)
Public presentation (PBA) - 29 October 2008 (PDF 1.43MB) - copy of the presentation shown to local residents at the initial public meeting
Contacts
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Dacorum Borough Council and Herts County Council
Project management and oversight:
Dacorum Borough Council
Tel: 01442 228671
Email: planning@dacorum.gov.uk
For highways issues:
Hertfordshire County Council
Website: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
Tel: 0300 123 4047 -
The residents' group
The group meets with Dacorum Borough Council officers and Hyder representatives as and when appropriate. For more information about the work of the residents' group, please contact:
Richard Taylor
Tel: 01442 404746
Email: richard.taylor226@btinternet.comMichele and Rodney Berkeley
Email: micheleberkeley@hotmail.com or rodneyberkeley@hotmail.com
Page Last Updated: Friday, 07 April 2017 at 08:35 AM