Update on Church Wall!
26 Sep 2022
Update on repairs to the Church Wall, Church Street, Kirkby Malzeard
In July the works to repair the Church Wall paused.
The Parish Council requested advice on why the work stalled, and were advised by Keir (the company who are doing the repairs) as follows (24th July):
The standstill on the project has occurred because we encountered very loose ground conditions including large stones, together with the proximity of a burial chamber which meant we couldn’t progress the works as originally proposed. Mason Clark have now revised the foundation design to enable the wall to be rebuilt with the stabilised embankment as it is to mitigate the risk of further movement and disturbance to the grave.
Kier are now back on site, as of Monday this week, to progress the works. We have yet to receive a revised programme but it is looking like the works will extend into November although Kier have advised that they will be looking to accelerate the works as much as they can.
The Parish Council were also keen to find out if the wall beneath the Church tower is to be restrained.
This area has been of concern to the Parish Council and we have been asking for reassurances that the stretch of wall beneath the Church tower and opposite the main entrance of the school is safe.
In response to the question of whether the wall beneath the Church Tower would be restrained with pattress plates, Keir responded:
Wall marked up but to date there has been no movement so this are not looking likely.
Unfortunately it was agreed as part of the revised planning application that the 1st 10m section would only be done if movement was detected to justify the works.
In September, we asked Keir for an estimated end time for the works and for the road to be opened.
We received this response:
The current programme is to complete in December 2023
Keir also advised that, there is , No change to the proposed appearance of the wall, however we have had to change the design of the foundation to the new build section due to ground conditions.