RE05822 - BROMMHILL LIBRARY WALL COLLAPSE

The project comprises works to reconstruct a stone wall within the garden of Broomhill Library that has suffered a partial collapse.

The library garden was designed by Percy Cane and is of local historical importance. The Friends of Broomhill Library have secured funding to redevelop the library garden, however, until the garden is clear of masonry and the wall rebuilt no work can take place.

The nursing home that adjoins the library garden is keen to reinstate the boundary wall as the Heras fencing securing the collapsed wall is reducing the amount of car parking space for the nursing home.

Investigations by a Structural engineer and a CCTV drainage survey of both the library and adjacent nursing home site have identified probable causes of the collapse as:

- A very large established tree behind the wall on the neighbouring properties land has been pushing on the wall as well as its root system mechanically interacting with the wall and its foundations

- Some recent repointing work has increased the weight marginally on the garden face of the wall. This has limited water from draining through the wall on the retained side increasing the water pressure in the retained material.

- The CCTV drainage survey identified a broken land drain on the nursing home grounds. Water from this drain has been leaking under the wall.

Works to remove the tree and repair the drain have been undertaken prior to these works being tendered.

The works to reinstate the wall include the demolition of some of the existing wall that is bowing, cleaning and preserving the existing stone for re-use where possible, excavation and casting a new increased footing, and rebuilding of the wall to include a wider construction in part to form a retaining structure and the introduction of weep holes.

It will also be necessary to remove, protect and reinstate some original stone features during the course of the works.

Due to the proximity of the site to neighbouring property there will be a requirement to undertake some facilitating works on the land of the adjacent residential home including works to reinstate any disruption caused to neighbouring property during the course of the works.