Work Site Tours

The work site tours began this evening with seven groups numbering around 15 people in each group. Each person was issued with a fuorescent yellow jacket and hard hat.

Wet and windy weather buffeted people and umbrellas alike; hardly ideal conditions. Exhibitions by Friends of Firs Field (FoFFs), the Combe Down Stone Mines Community Association and the Combe Down Heritage Group gave some added interest for residents.

The work site itself is clean and tidy and what struck me was the protection afforded to the horse chestnut tree and the War Memorial. Both are well protected by fences and Phil Bishop was pleased to see that the council's parks department has done some planting and tidying up in preparation for Remembrance Day on 11th November.

At one time there was a proposal to drive a ramp from the surface to the mine floor, but Robbie Narbutt from Hydrock showed us how the company had decided on an alternative of a pulley system to get materials into the mine to construct the roadways. This has saved a considerable amount of space on the surface.

At present 1200 cub metres of foamed concrete per day is being pouredinto the mines. The plant has a top capacity of 1500 cub metres.

It is a really worthwhile exercise to allow local people into the work site to see at first hand the professional way that the project is being managed.