Combe Down Stone Mines Land Stabilisation Project

Homepage & Project Updates

Welcome

The Combe Down Stone Mines Project is a major project by Bath & North East Somerset Council to stabilise abandoned limestone mine workings in Combe Down and preserve the Health & Safety of the area. The aim of the Project is to remove the current threat to life and property of those living, working in and travelling through the Combe Down area.

In doing this, the Project will ensure that the internationally recognised heritage, wildlife and environmental properties of the area are conserved for future generations.

This website provides further information on project progress and environmental issues related to the Project. If your questions are not answered then you can contact the Project Team by email, telephone or in person at the Information Centre.

We hope that you enjoy using this website and will find the information useful. If however, you have any suggestions on how we could improve our website, please email the Project Team on stone_mines@bathnes.gov.uk

GET INVOLVED

YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOUR WRITING IN PRINT

Grab your pen and paper and get poetical!

Poet, Andy Croft is currently editing a book of poems about Combe Down and would like some poems from you.

It already includes work by pupils from Combe Down Primary School and Ralph Allen School, by local residents as well as some from the Hydrock miners, and poems by Andy himself.

DIRECTOR WANTED

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual to direct the Combe Down Pageant which will be performed at the public Celebration Event on Firs Field on

26th September.

You will be working along side the projects public artists.

Previous experience would be helpful.

This person will be needed for rehearsals and must be available on 26th September.

Please contact Jen Albano on 01225 477200 if you are interested.

Public Art Open Day

Tuesday 7th July

Combe Down Stone Mines Information Centre,

199 Bradford Road

Day time Session - 10:30am - 4:30pm

Evening Session - 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Drop in any time during these sessions

All welcome.

Competition to design a label and name the beer

As part of the celebration of the completion of the project and the saving of the village, a Combe Down Commemorative Beer is being produced by the local Box Steam Brewery. This beer will be sold in the beer tent at the celebration event on Firs Field on 26th September.

Combe Down has a rich connection to brewing with the first brewery being built in Combe Down in 1848. Until that time, the local Combe Down pubs did their own brewing with many having steps directly into the mine so the miners could easily enjoy a pint. The first pub to begin brewing is thought to have been The Carriage Inn, now Combe Down News.

We would like to invite members of the community to design a label and name for this celebratory beer.

News Update

Road Closures/above ground works:

Church Road remains closed whilst concrete continues to be poured from the surface. 60% of the estimated volume in this stabilisation area is now placed. It is anticipated the section of Church Road between the Church and Belmont Road will be stabilised by September 2009.

Whilst there are no plans at present for other road closures, this continues to be monitored as surface works progress. As always, residents will be informed should any road closures be required.

Stabilisation of shafts and surface drilling works are ongoing, and are due to be complete in November of this year. We will keep in touch with residents as this work progresses.

Project Closure and Demob plans:

Hydrock’s works are planned to complete by Christmas this year. Demobilisation of the Firs Field compound will take place throughout October, November and December 2009. The batching plant (white silos) will be removed in November and most cabins in December. A small number of cabins, the perimeter fence and hardstanding will remain post December ready for the landscaping of Firs Field in the spring 2010.

MOD Foxhill

Hydrock commenced work in this area on the 12th March 2009 and stabilisation is due to be completed in December 2009. All works are currently running on programme. With the enabling works now completed, concrete placement commenced in mid May. The closure of the bus stop and the yellow lined hazard areas will remain until end of September.

Bats

Works at Byfield are now completed. The bats have been allowed back into their old habitat in time for the summer. This is after two years of exclusion. Natural England and our bat specialist will closely monitor their movements. A positive uptake has already been seen.