Work underway to protect homes from future landslips at former Mansfield quarry

Work has finally begun to stabilise the cliff face behind Bank End Close and Stone Bank on the former quarry site after a major landslip in November 2019 forced residents to evacuate their homes – with two further slips in December 2020 and early 2021 causing further concern for residents.

The first landslip happened after unusually heavy rainfall caused a complex failure of the sandstones that make up the cliff face, with the council leading a multi-agency response as homes were evacuated – some for two weeks.

Mansfield District Council has been working with geotechnical specialists Fairhurst since the 2019 landslip to carry out detailed surveys and identify the best way to stabilise the cliff’s surface and had hoped that work would start last year – but this was delayed by lengthy legal discussions with landowners.

Mike Robinson, strategic director at the council, said: “The safety of both residents and their properties have been our primary focus.

"We’ve worked hard to support affected residents and keep them informed as we brought this stabilisation project to fruition.

“While it has taken longer than we’d hoped, we are glad that work is underway and progressing well.

“Once completed, this should give reassurance to residents living at the foot of the cliff.

"We would like to thank everyone involved in making this vital project possible.”

Specialist engineers from CAN Geotechnical Ltd are securing steel netting and erosion matting with almost 3,000 soil nails drilled up to eight metres into the cliff face, with a 2.5-metre protective fence also being installed to provide a buffer zone between the base of the 25-metre-high cliff and residents' gardens.

Mike Yaxley, project manager for CAN Geotechnical explains: “The project is working from the top to the bottom to minimise risk, with each part stabilised before we move onto the next stage.

"We’re going to use Fairhurst’s weather warning system to make sure works are as safe as possible and avoid any delays.

"The rock trap will also provide an extra level of protection.”

The 22-week project should be completed in August at a cost of £3.5 million, with £250,000 of the total being subsidised by the Government.

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