Challenging Banking Refurbishment Completed
EDS was selected by Caerphilly County Borough Council to inspect damage to a stream bank backing onto residents’ gardens and a local school.
Due to restricted water flows, the stream posed a potential flood risk to local residents and the neighbouring comprehensive school.
The previous gabion baskets had collapsed, pulling earth from residents’ gardens, leaving the banks unstable and unsafe, and obstructing the stream flow. This not only increased flood risk but also disrupted the migration of spawning freshwater fish.
Access to the site was extremely limited within the narrow, steep stream bed, severely restricting options for plant and machinery. This meant the refurbishment had to be carried out using a challenging, largely manual methodology. Works involved the excavation of 20m³ of failed gabion baskets below the stream bed, the formation of a concrete foundation, and the construction of new gabion baskets.
The site before work commenced, the removal of the damaged gabions, and the sump pumped dry.
Methodology:
- Removal of all collapsing baskets manually
- Excavation of foundations by hand, while managing and maintaining water flow
- Concrete poured for new foundations
- Placement and filling of 15 new gabion baskets
- Rip-rap stone protection placed around the pond
- 500mm water depth maintained for Natural Resources Wales
- Construction of a dwarf wall and fencing to residents’ gardens, restoring stability and safe use
Set up of pipeline and concrete pour and the filling of the new gabions with a temporary access.
As the site was close to a local school, the work was scheduled for the August summer holidays to minimise disruption. The team had just six weeks to manually remove the collapsed baskets, dig new foundations, and install and fill the replacement gabions.
Despite the access challenges and tight schedule, the project was completed successfully and on time. The client was delighted with the outcome.
The completed refurbishment.
