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Parish News Update - April 2010
2010 ANNUAL PARISH
MEETING
7.30pm Colston Hall, Memorial
Centre. All residents are warmly invited to attend this
meeting to learn, discuss and ask questions on what is
happening in Gerrards Cross. This year the Council will be
inviting comments on the Parish-Plan 2010-2026 which affects
all residents. Pick up your copy from the Parish Office ,
South Lodge, East Common or visit the Council’s website
www.gerrardscross.gov.uk
THE TESCO TUNNEL
It took Tesco two years (from
June 30, 2005, when the tunnel collapsed, to July 2007) to
engage experts, investigate what had gone wrong and explore
the feasibility of repairing and strengthening the tunnel.
Having taken a decision to continue, there was another two
years of detailed design work and preparation for the
repair, and that phase lasted into the middle of 2009.
Now in the last 6 to 9 months
there has been at last real progress towards repairing the
tunnel and finishing the job. Firstly the gap where the
tunnel segments had collapsed onto the railway line had to
be filled with new segments of the same design as before.
However, this time the segments were joined together more
securely where they meet at the top of the arch.
Another part of the repair has
involved constructing a reinforced concrete arch over those
tunnel segments. Instead of bringing in ready-made segments
as before, however, this new structure is being constructed
by pouring concrete on site over steel reinforcing rods.
This new structure will take the weight of everything above,
including the infill material and the store itself. Huge
steel bolts at metre intervals down each side of the tunnel
ensure that the two structures are locked together.
One of the contributory factors
to the accident was uneven loading of the infill material
over the tunnel so that the segments began to bend out of
shape until some of them broke. Costain and Network Rail
wanted to know that no undue bending was taking place while
the project continued.
Each tunnel segment has been
fitted with a monitoring device reflecting a beam of light
back to a measuring station inside the tunnel adjacent to
the railway line. This can detect flexing of as little as
one millimetre in those concrete segments and continuous
computer monitoring of those movements ensures that the big
strains which caused the tunnel to collapse on June 30, 2005
would be detected now at an early stage before they became
dangerous.
The new reinforced concrete arch
is complete at both ends and is being finished in the middle
now. Progress is fast and the Tesco foodstore is expected to
open in time for Christmas 2010.
HIGHWAYS ON CALL
Residents will have been
saddened to learn of the fatal accident to a schoolgirl on
the A413 between Tatling End and Chalfont St Peter. The
streetlights are turned-off on that section and it is
understood the accident may have been caused by a car
hitting flood water following which the driver lost control.
If you see a flood do phone Highways on Call on 0845 2302882
or out of office hours, 01296 486630.
SPEEDING
Speed activated signs have now
been installed on the Fulmer Road and the Parish Council’s
Highways Committee is seeking consent to install another on
the Windsor Road. Evidence shows they are effective in
slowing speeding motorists but the downside is that they
cost £5000 each.
OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Apparently Gerrards Cross has
the 4th worst carbon footprint in Bucks! One
suggestion to help lower this, apart from walking/cycling to
school, work or the station, is to ensure security lights
are switched off during the day. Often we see them left on
serving no useful purpose.
WAPSEYS WOOD RECYCLING SITE
The site operators, Veolia, have
announced that they will be requesting from Bucks County
Council an extension of the date to restore the site to
green belt from the current restoration date of 2012 to
2020. The Parish Council will strongly oppose this request.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
The Parish Council’s Youth
Committee is working with the Gerrards Cross Youth Club to
plan an activities day on the Commons and a Disco at the
Club. Watch our website
www.gerrardscross.gov.uk and the Notice Boards for
details and dates.
Cllr. M May CBE
Communications Chairman
April 2010
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