Sinkhole investigation uncovers mining legacy

Derbyshire County Council said there were "no accurate records to rely on due to the age of the culverts in the area"

A council is carrying out investigations underneath a road where a sinkhole developed.

The hole appeared on the A6015 Hayfield Road at Low Leighton, near the High Hill Road junction, in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire County Council, which was alerted to the issue on 28 July, shared an update on Friday confirming United Utilities had repaired their damaged infrastructure last week.

The authority has now taken responsibility of the site and is investigating a collapsed historic culvert, about 16ft (5m) below the road surface.

Further diversion signs will be installed during the weekend, to remind motorists and HGVs that the road is closed

A culvert is a tunnel that typically channels surface water underground.

According to the council, the culvert "appears to be a legacy from former mine workings in the area and is at least 150 years old".

It said it needed to know the extent of the collapse beneath the A6015 to work out the best way to repair the culvert and reopen the road safely.

Contractors will use remote cameras to see either side of the collapse within the culvert

To do this, vegetation next to the sinkhole has been cleared to dig a hole and find the culvert entrance.

A specialist "confined space" team will then crawl through it, using remote cameras to see to check the length of the collapse and its condition.

The team is expected to be on site late next week, and will also check a larger and deeper culvert nearby while the specialist equipment is on site.

In a statement, the council apologised for delays and inconvenience, and said it was looking at options to reopen at least one lane of Hayfield Road, controlled by traffic signals.

Another update is expected on Wednesday.

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