CTRL work restarts two months after landslide

Work on Contract 240 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) has resumed after a two-month halt, following a landslide in Stratford that swallowed three gardens.

The 'downline' tunnel boring machine (TBM) restarted on 1 May and has now passed underneath Lavender Street, overtaking the 'upline' TBM which has been stationary beneath the area that subsided on 8 February. The upline TBM is scheduled to restart in mid May.

Although investigations into the cause of the 12m deep, 15 wide hole have been ongoing since February, no one appears any the wiser as to the cause of the collapse.

"We have strong suspicions that it is the redundant water wells that caused the subsidence, but we're still talking about it. As the TBM has now passed without incident through Lavender Street and the Health & Safety Executive are satisfied that we can continue with the boring, we're going to monitor everything very thoroughly from now on," said a CTRL spokesman.

Stratford residents however are said to be concerned that work has started without having received any credible explanation to the cause of the collapse or reassurance that there will not be a recurrence.

CTRL's official statement said: "Ahead of the TBM's we have undertaken thorough and extensive ground surveys using the latest available techniques including ground penetrating radar, focussed radar, 3D tomography and micro gravity."

"CTRL is committed to put right any damage caused to residents' properties and remains in discussion with them to ensure that this happens.

"The project is paying for the residents to be advised by an independent surveyor and has also voluntarily offered to pay up to £10,000 to cover the cost of a second legal opinion on their possible entitlement to claims under the Compensation Code, which codifies the land compensation statutes. We are currently awaiting further responses and information from the residents' solicitors," added CTRL.