Faggs Road roadworks update

The works are clearly taking longer than originally advised.  I have made enquiries and received the following today:

“The sewer repair works have stopped temporary due to engineering difficulty with ground water ingress.

As a result, a site meeting has been arranged for Friday 21 December 2012 at 10am to agree alternative solution.

I shall provide you with an update after the meeting on Friday.”

Investigatory works at Feltham Arena

I received the following yesterday:

“We are writing to let you know about investigatory works planned for the Feltham Arenas site in Feltham North ward.

We have engaged the firm Waterman to assess the physical stability of slopes on the site, to test the upper soils chemically, and to give an external expert opinion on the site’s safety, with regard to slope stability and the chemical quality of the soil. This is being done in order to ensure that future works on the site can be designed to leave it in an appropriate condition. Waterman will be on the arena site for three days- the 17th through 19th December. They will employ a cable percussion rig to undertake testing of ground conditions at depth and a JCB style digger to construct trial pits for chemical testing.

We are informing you of these works so that you are aware of what is happening if asked by residents. If there is interest from residents we would encourage them not to approach the works onsite for safety reasons and because they are contractors fulfilling their brief who will not be in a position to field questions. If residents have further questions please ask them to contact either leisure services or land quality on leisure@hounslow.gov.uk, landquality@hounslow.gov.uk or through the call centre on 0208 583 5000.

The latest official word on the wider progress on the site is the following statement by Cllr Ajmer Grewal, cabinet member for leisure, sent to us from our press officer “We have worked to secure the site, and are clearing up the car park area to improve its appearance. We are also looking at a range of exciting alternatives to bring the site back into active use.” Other works will be taking place in spring to improve the playing surface, and we remain in contact with the football club about their involvement with the site.””

I sent the following query:

“Thank you for letting me know about this.  Whilst I have no problem with this at all, I am concerned that the following has not already happened:

“to assess the physical stability of slopes on the site, to test the upper soils chemically, and to give an external expert opinion on the site’s safety, with regard to slope stability and the chemical quality of the soil.”

Or are you stating that the above has been done internally but now external opinion is being sought?”

And I received the following response today:

“Some chemical testing has been done on the site in the past. These are additional works by a third party consultancy following re-working of the site over the summer.”