Gerrards Cross Tunnel Collapse

[john_p]

Thousands of tons of rubble on the line - and thats assuming no more of it comes down or has to be pulled down.

What a screwup - design or build error? That area was supposed to be the car park. If it collapsed with no load on top, what about the rest of it?



More info here (which is where the photo came from) and BBC (BTW, look at the van that some idiot parked on top of the part-collapsed tunnel)

>> Edited by john_p on Friday 1st July 12:33

[vetteheadracer]

Weird....the van is in the picture on the BBC site but not on the picture you posted......

[john_p]

I think the main photo was taken very early, and the BBC article not long after. Might be wrong though - BTW does it look like the tunnel has dipped a bit more on the BBC site?

[Marki]

Oh how IKB would laugh

[AC79xxx]

john_p said:

What a screwup - design or build error? That area was supposed to be the car park. If it collapsed with no load on top, what about the rest of it?

It will probably all be condemend as they can't secure the tunnel to clear the rubble and debris off the line.

I hope the contractor has his PI up to date.

[PetrolTed]

The BMW showrooms there have closed down

[PetrolTed]

This is one of those schemes where Prescott overruled the local planning authority.

Why? It's hardly an important issue whether Gerrards Cross has a big supermarket or not (plenty within a short drive).

[john_p]

[redacted]

[Eric Mc]

[redacted]

[wanty1974]

Now, I'm no builder, but doesn't that seem to be a very thin bit of reinforced concrete arch to hold up all that hardcore? I know that arches are meant to distribute load effectively, but it only seems about 15cm thick...

Bloody Tescos.

[Munter]

[redacted]

[mrs_knee]

I worked in Gerrards Cross 16 years ago and this Tesco was being planned then but there was so much opposition from the locals that we assumed that it wouldn't go ahead.

I wonder if this will put a stop to it!

>> Edited by mrs_knee on Friday 1st July 12:59

[dds1]

PetrolTed said:

The BMW showrooms there have closed down

not for long, I think they are moving to a new site.

A friend of mine is trying to buy the old showroom and use it for his car business

[Mon Ami Mate]

PetrolTed said:

This is one of those schemes where Prescott overruled the local planning authority. Why? It's hardly an important issue whether Gerrards Cross has a big supermarket or not (plenty within a short drive).

This Tesco will be very much in demand when Prescott announces next year that 40,000 affordable homes for "key workers" will be built in true blue South Bucks...

[john_p]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yep, Wycombe is now the place. Still, it's not like there aren't about 10 other BMW dealerships within a 30 minute drive..


>> Edited by john_p on Friday 1st July 13:00

[PetrolTed]

Both showrooms have closed and moved to the new large one at High Wycombe.

I'm no engineer but from what I could see the arches were some sort of steel reinforced concrete.

[Mikey G]

wanty1974 said:

Now, I'm no builder, but doesn't that seem to be a very thin bit of reinforced concrete arch to hold up all that hardcore? I know that arches are meant to distribute load effectively, but it only seems about 15cm thick... Bloody Tescos.

Now i'm no engineer either but my guess is that its a bit thicker than 15cm or do they use super small builders these days?

[Bee_Jay]

Mon Ami Mate said:

PetrolTed said: This is one of those schemes where Prescott overruled the local planning authority. Why? It's hardly an important issue whether Gerrards Cross has a big supermarket or not (plenty within a short drive). This Tesco will be very much in demand when Prescott announces next year that 40,000 affordable homes for "key workers" will be built in true blue South Bucks...

I severely doubt this will happen, the policy review documents are due soon. Far too much against this at the moment...

[Fatboy]

Marki said:

Oh how IKB would laugh

His track record with London tunnels wasn't exactly flawless... (even though his probs were all due to crap surveyors)

[meeja]

john_p said:

PetrolTed said: This is one of those schemes where Prescott overruled the local planning authority. Why? It's hardly an important issue whether Gerrards Cross has a big supermarket or not (plenty within a short drive). Agree, the Tesco in Amersham is not 10 minutes away. I wonder if, umm, Tescos were "very persuasive".

Whilst I was on holiday a few weeks ago, I was watching something about this supermarket development (I think it was on BBC World) and without actually saying it, the programme implied that with the legal muscle that the supermarket company had at their disposal, they ALWAYS got their own way, regardless of the fears/objections etc of others.