Case Study
Truro Allotments, Cornwall
Remedial Land Drainage and Footpath Groundworks
When remedial works were needed at an allotment site in Truro, Tithegrove Groundworks brought in JMJ Groundworks to put things right on behalf of Places for People.
Tithegrove had taken over the contract after problems with the original works, and the site had been left in a poor state. The hoggin footpaths were sinking and holding water, the land drainage wasn’t working, manholes were blocked and areas of block paving had been damaged.
Rather than patching up what could be seen on the surface, our job was to find out why the original works were failing, remove the defective construction and rebuild it properly. Over around six weeks, our three-man team replaced the land drainage, rebuilt the footpaths on a proper sub-base and handed the allotments back in far better condition than we found them.
Project Overview
Client
Tithegrove Groundworks for Places For People
Project
Remedial works at an allotment site
Location
Truro, Cornwall
Duration
6 Weeks
Services
Remedial land drainage, block-paved footpaths and external works
Scope of Work
Unlike our other featured projects, this was a full labour, plant and materials package, from setting up the site through to demobilisation. A three-man JMJ team carried out the works using a 3-tonne excavator and 3-tonne dumper.
Our works covered:
- Removing the defective land drainage
- Installing new 150mm perforated land drainage, correctly bedded and surrounded
- Correcting the drainage falls
- Clearing and rectifying blocked manholes
- Removing the failed hoggin footpaths
- Installing a proper Type 1 (803) sub-base
- Laying concrete path edgings
- Building new block-paved footpaths
- Replacing damaged existing block paving
- Topsoil works and reinstatement
Project Challenges
Once we started opening up the existing works, the causes of the problems became clear.
Instead of proper perforated land drainage pipe, solid pipe had been used with small cuts made into it, so water couldn’t get into the system properly. Sections had also been laid to the wrong falls, and the connected manholes had become blocked.
The footpaths had effectively nothing underneath them. The hoggin had been laid straight onto the existing ground with timber edging, which had since moved out of position. Without a proper sub-base, the paths had sunk and started holding water.
Restricted access
The allotments are enclosed by walls, with just one tight access point. Our 3-tonne excavator and dumper could get through, but delivery lorries couldn’t, and there was no laydown area outside.
Every load of material in and spoil out had to be lifted over the wall by HIAB and grab lorries working from outside. With so little space inside, deliveries and muck-away were carefully planned to keep the job moving without overcrowding the site.
Working away in a heatwave
Our team travelled down from Devon and stayed locally Monday to Friday for the full six weeks, keeping the same team on the job without losing time to a daily commute. It all happened during a summer heatwave, and the lads kept the job moving and the standard high throughout.
Delivery
With the causes identified, we stripped out the failed drainage and footpaths rather than trying to repair them. The new 150mm perforated land drainage went in correctly bedded and laid to the proper falls, and the blocked manholes were cleared so the whole system could drain freely.
The footpaths were rebuilt from the ground up on a Type 1 sub-base, with concrete edgings that won’t move the way the timber had, and finished with new block paving. Damaged sections of the existing paving were replaced, and the surrounding areas were reinstated with topsoil.
The allotment holders and residents’ committee took a keen interest in the works and visited several times to see how things were progressing. Our team built a good relationship with them, kept the working areas tidy and organised, and made sure they were happy with how the job was being done.
Results
The drainage and waterlogging problems have been resolved, and the paths are now properly constructed and built to last.
The allotments were handed back in a significantly improved condition, with both Tithegrove and the residents’ representatives pleased with the finished result.
It was our first project for Tithegrove Groundworks, and it’s since led to further work with them.
For us, this project shows something just as important as building new groundworks: we can come into an existing site, work out exactly why something has failed and put in place a proper long-term fix. It also shows we’re happy to take our teams and plant further afield across the South West when a job calls for it.
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