HS2 contractor confirms ‘sizeable’ sinkhole in Buckinghamshire
The firm constructing the HS2 high-speed rail line has has confirmed that it is investigating the emergence of a sinkhole close to a Buckinghamshire river on Saturday, which has been identified as “quite sizeable” in correspondence seen by the Guardian.
The sinkhole is close to Shardeloes Lake near Amersham and according to an email from an official from HS2 Ltd’s contractor, Align, sent on Saturday evening to local residents: “It’s quite sizeable – around six meters in diameter and five meters deep. These are approximate measurements.”
The sinkhole is in Bazzards Field, south-west of the lake. It has been fenced off and is near a public right of way.
The email adds: “The landowners have been informed and livestock moved to a safe place.”
HS2 Ltd sources said the area where the sinkhole has emerged is above a section of completed tunnelling, so tunnelling operations are continuing. The sources added that the Environment Agency has been notified and HS2 is engaging with the landowner about the structure.
The opening up of a sinkhole close to Shardeloes Lake is the latest problem to hit HS2 construction work. Between February and April of this year there were three separate incidents relating to “bubbling pools” and other problems in an area of HS2 construction work in Ruislip.
The Birmingham to Crewe section of the track has been delayed and costs of the project are spiralling.
Paul Jennings of the River Chess Association, which monitors the work of HS2 and campaigns for clean water, told the Guardian he had contacted the Environment Agency after the sinkhole emerged and urged them to halt any further work until the sinkhole had been investigated. He said he had also contacted Thames Water and asked them to pause supplying water
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