From the Indy this morning -

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/homes-evacuated-after-giant-sinkhole-opens-up-in-hemel-hempstead-9130618.html 

Any theories?

And also -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-26206764 

Chalk mines, I would now guess. It appears that the Highbarns estate has had problems in the recent past.

From the Indy this morning -
Any theories?

SINKHOLES the next big thing.
Last year you claimed for whiplash, this year a sinkhole! 😮
Let's wait for the first TV claims ad.
I claim "Sinkholes-R-us" as a trademark! :thumbsup:

Sound like its a ongoing issue in the area

http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/local/an-extra-3-million-is-secured-to-save-nash-mills-homes-from-chalk-mines-blight-1-5285222 

Rather than a wave of killer sinkholes, this is not Florida.

Talking of sinkholes etc ...

It's always wise to make sure when drilling in the middle of a lake that you don't accidently drill into a salt mine below ....

Lake Peigneur in Lousiana




Oooooppps 😞

Talking of sinkholes etc ...

It's always wise to make sure when drilling in the middle of a lake that you don't accidently drill into a salt mine below ....

Lake Peigneur in Lousiana

Oooooppps :-[

How did those lads on the rig break it to their boss

I would imagine it was the Boss that gave the lad`s on the rig a position to drill,
One has to ask how they got permission to drill at all,with an underground salt mine in operation in the location.

Yup, chalk mine for sure, its right on the site of an old brick works, so same need for mining chalk as here in Reading..

J

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Images from a laser survey of the mines:

http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/docs/default-source/planning-development/highbarns-cals-survey-report-june-11.pdf?Status=Master&sfvrsn=0 

I remember some of the team at Combe Down applying for jobs at a chalk mine backfill project in Herts, but I don't recall any of them having any success

At this rate Adit Now will have its own sub forum dedicated to sink dole discussion :blink: 😎

One Show tonight - suggesting once again that these collapses are all natural! Why is there such a reluctance to state that the majority of these, particularly those recent ones in chalk country, are very likely collapsing mineworkings / shafts? The one featured recently was under a very recent residential development. Are people scared of raising the question of liability? Would there be insurance implications?

The psychology behind that Peter is interesting. The media would like you to think the sinkholes are somehow a supernatural phenomenon, after all, they can eat people and cars. A rational explanation spoils the fun. I am not sure how people are covered by their property insurance for this sort of event. I regard my policy as being pretty good, but it's surprising how frequently I get letters telling me that this or that sub-clause has been deleted or changed. In the future we my find insurance companies inventing disclaimers aimed at getting them out of subsidence caused by exceptional weather etc.

Having been involved professionally in this area, it seems that if you do some site investigation and find mine workings under someone's house, you are not doing them any favours by telling them.
Once a householder is told/shown/given a plan that informs them that they are undermined, they must inform their insurance company. Their insurance company will then remove cover immediately or slightly nicer (!!) impose restrictions on renewal.
The householder is better off in blissful ignorance so they can say "well who would have thought it!" when their house collapses.

A couple of relevant items on BBC1 Countryfile this evening, with Caphouse and Magpie mines, together with all the various recent holes including some good pictures of the Foolow hole.
Should be on BBC Iplayer.

Hi Guys

I am doing some research into chalkmines/deneholes.

It seems some of you think there has been a bit of a media whitewash concerning sinkholes and them being portrayed as a supernatural phenomena.

I'm really interested in these areas where building has occurred on areas of obvious (or sometimes, perhaps not so obvious) risk.

Are councils doing enough to investigate what is beneath us before granting planning permission? Are they paying any attention to old maps, old incidents, or people like yourselves identifying areas of concern? Are some better than others?

With the weather and also what with the increase for housing this is clearly a problem that isn't going to go away anytime soon. What's your view? What's your experience?

Hi Guys

I am doing some research into chalkmines/deneholes.

It seems some of you think there has been a bit of a media whitewash concerning sinkholes and them being portrayed as a supernatural phenomena.

I'm really interested in these areas where building has occurred on areas of obvious (or sometimes, perhaps not so obvious) risk.

Are councils doing enough to investigate what is beneath us before granting planning permission? Are they paying any attention to old maps, old incidents, or people like yourselves identifying areas of concern? Are some better than others?

With the weather and also what with the increase for housing this is clearly a problem that isn't going to go away anytime soon. What's your view? What's your experience?

Your request is rather specific, could you explain to us your particular interest?

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Are councils doing enough to investigate what is beneath us before granting planning permission? Are they paying any attention to old maps, old incidents, or people like yourselves identifying areas of concern?

No is the simple answer.. Certainly not in my experience, having just completed PhD on identifying chalk mining in Reading. From the onset Council were insistent on not knowing findings, as if anything happens in areas brought to their attention, they might be considered liable...so stick fingers in ears instead.

Particularly sticky when I was involved with a mini BBC documentary on the subject, local councillor (particuarly odious character, think Donald Rumsfeld/Dick Cheney, with a beard) stated it was sensationalist nonsense, all mines here are known about *and* mapped (haha!)...and I had to reply politely, how he was talking completely out of his a**e :thumbdown:

Similar experience with Norwich council, when I was looking at involving mining problem there too in the study...they really, really did not want to know, to the point of rudeness :glare:

Only exception to the rule is Welwyn Hatfield, after collapse/subsidence issues at Briars Lane, they've proven really proactive, initiated a whole geomorphological and historical study to identify other potential mining sites, and even follow up ground investigations...

J

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