With the roadside above High Barnet station visibly collapsing, Theresa Villiers MP has contacted TfL and Barnet Council to ask for action to be taken to ensure the wooded embankment between the A1000 Barnet Hill and High Barnet station is safe.
The council recently responded to report on work which will be carried out to monitor and remedy the problems which have been occurring.
"We need action to ensure that this area is safe and that the movement in the surface of the road is addressed. There have been extensive changes made to this stretch of the A1000 over the over past centuries, and it certainly looks as if some of its Victorian era engineering needs shoring up. It is welcome that the council is working on this."
Barnet Council have responded as follows to Theresa's appeal that they take steps to remedy the collapsing roadside:
"Following multiple carriageway failures on the A1000 Barnet Hill Barnet Council have appointed WSP to investigate the cause of these ongoing issues.
The land lying between A1000, and High Barnet underground station is a Victorian era embankment. It has not been constructed to modern standards and as a result of the age and construction method, it is suffering ongoing slope movement adjacent to and affecting the carriageway, which is maintained by Barnet Council. The slope contains instruments (Inclinometers) to allow monitoring of the movements.
The readings show that the slope moves less during the summer when the trees are active and seasonal rainfall is less. The readings increase to the winter period when the trees are dormant, and rainfall is greatest. The readings for this year are consistent with this pattern and indicate the movement to be concentrated at shallow levels.
Short- and medium-term works are required to protect the A1000 from ongoing movement especially as we move towards winter. Barriers will need to be placed along the edge of the southbound carriageway to keep vehicles away from the unstable pavement edge and prevent carriageway run-off draining onto the embankment. The frequency of the inclinometer readings will be increased to obtain more detailed data and determine if rates of movement are changing.
Associated with this further investigation of the slope will require extensive clearance of the impenetrable undergrowth (Brambles). This would be required over a width extending 15m from the carriageway and approximately 175m length from a point 10m north of the northern end of the bus layby on the opposite carriageway. This is to confirm the location and extents of slope movement and maintain accessibility to the inclinometers. Further works are being considered but are dependent upon the results of ongoing investigations."
Update 31st October 2022: Since publishing this article, further concerns about this issue have been raised by a constituent with long experience in the civil engineering field who is worried that this problem is not being taken seriously enough. Theresa therefore continues to press Barnet Council to ensure that effective measures are taken to ensure the safety of the public.
