PLANS to build 150 houses on top of a working mine in Corsham have been slammed by a Pickwick residents’ group. Mr David Taylor, chairman of The Pickwick Association, said that the Redrow plan to build directly over the live underground quarry workings at the Park Lane mine at Hartham was “an astonishing decision”. He added that there were huge concerns that the noise testing required by the developer to design satisfactory foundations for the new houses was faulty. This week developers Redrow Homes denied those claims, and invited the association to meet them to discuss their fears. The association says the tests were not done on the building site, but about a mile away in a worked-out section of a mine operated by a competitor company. “How can faulty offsite tests done with the wrong equipment provide any real idea of how much noise and vibration will eventually be felt by residents inside these new houses?” said Mr Taylor. “These licensed mine workings have decades to run so the peaceful enjoyment the new residents rightly expect will be rudely shattered from day one, well into the second half of this century. “We are confident that Wiltshire Council is well aware of this and will take the appropriate steps to discard the findings submitted by the developer.” He was speaking after he accompanied Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan on a tour of the mine with Simon Hart, managing director of Lovell Stone Group. “This stone quarrying had historically been a major contributor to Corsham’s economy and we want this to continue,” added Mr Taylor. “Housing development at this site should be a non-starter. Development should take place where stone deposits have already been worked out, for example at the nearby Copenacre site, just a matter of yards further along the A4.” “The late Lovell Stone, who invested more than £1m in new equipment to extract Hartham Park Bath stone from under the site, had hoped their operations would continue unabated and uninterrupted.” Chairman of Corsham Town Council, Ruth Hopkinson, added that the town council is opposed to development at this location. A Redrow spokesman said: “We have undertaken extensive geotechnical testing across the Corsham site to ensure compliance at every stage of the development and categorically refute the unsubstantiated claims that the testing is faulty. “In the case of this site, we have worked with specialist, independent consultants to identify and mitigate any issues relating to the attributes of this land. The NHBC, the UK’s leading new home warranty provider, has reviewed all plans and is satisfied with all our proposals. “The testing could not be undertaken in the 100-year-old historic, disused mines directly underneath the site as investigations showed the area was too dangerous to access on health and safety grounds. The testing was therefore done in the closest accessible area.” where conditions mirrored the ground below the proposed development and is compliant with all the planning regulations for this site.” “We have engaged with and are always available to meet with the Town Council, Town’s Neighbourhood Plan Working Group, Civic Society, local District Councillor, St Patrick’s Church Parochial Committee, and the owner of Guyer’s House Hotel with regards to this site."
Redrow 's plans to build tower houses directly over the live underground coal workings at the Park Lane quarry at Hartham has been called " astonishing " by David Taylor , chairman of the Pickwick Association . he said there were huge concerns the noise testing conducted for satisfactory foundations were faulty , and urged Wiltshire Council to " take the appropriate steps to discard the proposals submitted by the contractors . " Corsham Town Council is opposed to the proposal . However , Redrow says that it has undertaken extensive geotechnical testing and " categorically refute(s ) the unsubstantiated claims . "