Call for action over barriers at Mansfield landslip site that ‘can’t go on forever’

Emergency services were called to Rock Hill in the town on November 21, 2019, just after 9am, after part of a nearby cliff collapsed into the carriageway.

The incident came just weeks after a separate major quarry landslide forced residents to evacuate their homes in part of Berry Hill.

Mansfield Council and Nottinghamshire Council worked together to find a solution to the Rock Hill incident, with temporary barriers placed across half of the left-hand lane on the road.

These barriers have been in place for more than two years, with plans and conversations ongoing about a more long-term solution to keeping motorists safe.

Now a councillor in the town has called for faster action to resolve the issue, saying it’s a safety hazard for residents and is restricting the town from celebrating a heritage asset.

The site is close to historic cave houses located on the nearby cliff face that have been in the town for hundreds of years.

Coun Andre Camilleri, county council member for Mansfield South, has called on the councils to outline their plans.

He says Nottinghamshire Council has spent £170,000 on the temporary road barriers, but believes ‘this can’t go on forever’.

He said: “My biggest problem is the barriers on the road.

“It’s a main road out of Mansfield – you can’t have barriers there forever or you might as well just build the road where the barriers are.

“The county council has been great. It’s cost us £170,000 to keep it safe and put the barriers up, but this can’t go on forever.

“Somebody is going to get injured in there unless it all gets sorted. If kids got in and it collapsed it would be very dangerous.”

Solution

Coun Camilleri wants the councils to outline their solution now and, once the issue has been addressed, to find funds to renovate and improve the historic cave houses.

He says they could then be used as a heritage landmark for residents to visit and celebrate.

He said: “They’ve been there for about 300 or 400 years and are part of the heritage.

“First of all, I want them to make them safe. Some work could then be done to get it sorted, it’s part of the town so money should be spent repairing it and making it right.

“It’s been too long now. If we can find some money to make the caves safe and then improve them so people can visit them, it would boost the town.”

The district council said conversations are ongoing about finding a longer-term solution and an update will be provided once this has been decided.

Martin Saxton, Mansfield Council head of planning and regeneration, said: “We are working with our partners at Nottinghamshire Council to provide a long-term solution.”

A county council spokesman said traffic measures will be in place until the ‘best solution’ is found.

The county council said: “We have been working with the district council and other interested parties, along with technical specialists to identify the best solution to stabilise the bank.

“Until these works are complete, traffic management will remain in place to ensure the safety of pedestrians and road users.”