HS2 contractor, Align has confirmed to residents that a sinkhole has appeared at Shardeloes Park between Old Amersham and Little Missenden. It is approximately six metres across and five deep. Our inspection yesterday (Sunday 14th May) confirms this, and that it is possibly growing.
The incident has already been picked up by the The Guardian newspaper, and the Chiltern Society is concerned that this will not be the end of the story. The charity understands that as the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) progress they go underneath the Misbourne River at the top end of the lake (pictured) it and get closer to the surface. The Society has asked that either HS2 Limited or one of the Government agencies take immediate action to bring this under control. If like previous incidents along the route, once one of these incidents occur, more will follow.
It’s not as though HS2 and the Government have not been warned. At every opportunity over the past decade or more the Chiltern Society campaign team have been highlighting this as one of the major risks. See page 7 of its 2010 report (link to PDF below).
As soon as we have any further information, we will post it here.
