A challenge to make our town fit for 21st century (From Warrington Guardian)

A challenge to make our town fit for 21st century

ONE of Vale Royal's leading councillors paid tribute to the workers who saved Northwich from collapse more than 100 years ago at the launch of the salt mines stabilisation project.

Clr Arthur Wood, the borough council's lead councillor for regeneration, pressed the button at the town centre site to start the two-year operation last Tuesday.

He also looked back at the events of December 6 1881, when a land collapse threatened to destroy the whole town.

He said the vast amount of water flooding down into the multitude of mine working caused the River Weaver to flow backwards.

The mines were filled with brine at the time to stabilise them.

Before pressing the button, Clr Wood said: "Let's bear in mind not just the work we have put in to get here but those who, 124 years ago, also began to save the town and, by their ingenuity in combating subsidence, made it a unique place."

Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall said one of the first things he did after being made MP was to get the Government to take action to make the stabilisation of the town centre possible.

He said he was delighted that the work had now started.

Mr Hall said: "This work is essential. It also gives us, for the first time, a real opportunity to deliver the vision for Northwich.

"The challenge now is to grasp this opportunity, transform the town centre and make it fit for the 21st century.

"This is a vote of confidence in the people and traders of Northwich."

The project will involve pumping one million tonnes of grout into four mines under the town centre, after removing 800,000 cubic metres of brine from the caverns.

It has been planned for six years and will allow work to begin on the town's £200million regeneration plan.

rbabington@guardiangrp.co.uk