Repairs to fix mineshaft delayed after dispute

Repairs to fix a 40ft (12m) deep mineshaft hole has been delayed due to a dispute between Cornwall Council and South West Water (SWW), an MP's office says.

Pendarves Street in Beacon had to be shut when the mineshaft collapsed at the end of November.

Residents in the village near Camborne said the months-long closure has caused "traffic chaos" in surrounding streets, with the village of Troon said to be entirely "cut off".

A caseworker for local MP Perran Moon has written to a concerned resident, saying Moon was "putting pressure on both authorities to get this resolved as soon as possible to enable works to begin", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The correspondence added: "There have also been some requests for a 'businesses open as usual' sign and Perran will be taking this request directly to Cornwall Council."

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: "Surveys and geotechnical investigations carried out at Pendarves Street revealed a mining feature which runs to around 12m deep beneath the road surface.

"From our perspective, we are ready to begin on site and negotiations with other utility providers are at a stage where work can begin.

"However, before we can carry out this work sewer and mains water services running close to the feature need to be diverted.

"Cornwall Council is ready to carry out our repairs as soon as South West Water have done so."

In turn, SWW appeared to blame the council for the delay.

A spokesperson said: "Our teams have investigated the pipework in Pendarves Street, Beacon, following the historic mine feature found under the road by Cornwall Council.

"We have a plan in place to use overland pipes to divert our sewer and water mains which are under the hole so that Cornwall Council can undertake the necessary works to make the road safe for highway users and local residents.

"As soon as we get permission from Cornwall Council to begin the work, we will start to divert the pipes."

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