Rubble, an exposed mass of soil and protruding lush green weeds - this is the unusual scene on what is a typical residential street in Medway. However, following a two-year wait, much anticipated work has finally commenced to rebuild the collapsed retaining wall on Listmas Road in Chatham. H. Goodsell & Son Ltd, a general building contractors firm based in Maidstone, has been appointed to carry out the work on behalf of the Diocese of Rochester. Repair work commenced on February 12, 2018, and is expected to be completed by the end of April 2018. The boundary wall of the Magpie Community Centre unexpectedly collapsed on January 7, 2016, at approximately 9:20pm, sending a huge amount of rubble and earth plunging onto the pavement and carriageway below. Emergency services were called at 9:40pm, with Kent Fire & Rescue crews spending hours assessing the damage at the scene. The wall was around 3 metres in height, while two mini-buses and a car were significantly damaged. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities were reported. Temporary work was undertaken between February 1, 2016, and February 15, 2016, to ensure the immediate area of the incident was made safe to members of the public. During the initial road closure, contractors cleared excess rubble strewn across the carriageway and installed safety measures such as a temporary structure and fencing. The cause of the wall collapse remains unknown, although some suggestions include the age of the wall, poor drainage due to the blocked weepholes and increased pressure from the soil. It is thought that the repair work was delayed due to difficulties in determining who had legal responsibility to carry out the work and who actually owned the wall. However, Diocese of Rochester selected civil engineering consultancy, Evans & Langford, to produce a specification for the repair work. The planning proposal was published in early July 2017, and then later approved by Medway Council on August 1, 2017. With work now underway, angry residents in the local area have met the news with a sigh of relief. The reconstructed section of the retaining wall will consist of new interlocking concrete blocks, a light weight granular backfill and sub-soil weepholes at regular intervals. The aim of this enhanced design is to provide a more strengthened structure with reduced pressure, while excess surface water is drained out sufficiently. Speaking to the Medway Messenger in January this year, Chatham Central ward councillor Vince Maple said: “It is simply unacceptable this situation has now gone on more than two years.
“Residents’ patience has long expired and want to see this situation sorted. “The debate between the council, the diocese and various insurance companies lasted far too long with the community having to put up with an inexcusable delay.” Future Chatham communicated with Jennifer Ross, Strategic Framework Communications Adviser at the Diocese of Rochester, who was able to confirm: “The Diocese is pleased to be covering the full cost of the repairs to ensure that access to this important community resource is re-established as soon as possible.” During the repair work, the car park to the rear of All Saints Church will remain partially closed to enable access to a site compound for spoil and material storage. Parking on Listmas Road between the junctions with Magpie Hall Road and Henry Street has also been suspended to ease the traffic flow. |
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August 2023
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