Camberwell Drive Mine Monitoring

A major public‑safety remediation scheme

The Camberwell Drive coal shaft project is a major public‑safety remediation scheme being delivered at Camberwell Drive in Ashton‑under‑Lyne, following the discovery of ground instability caused by a historic coal mine shaft linked to the former Limehurst Colliery, which operated between the mid‑19th century and 1899.

In December 2021, a ground collapse revealed the presence of a deep mine shaft—recorded as extending more than 400 metres underground—prompting an immediate response from the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority) and Tameside Council to secure the area and protect nearby homes and infrastructure.

Initial emergency works included infilling the void with hundreds of tonnes of stone and ongoing monitoring to ensure there was no further movement affecting the road, footpaths or surrounding properties.

The current phase of the project focuses on delivering a permanent engineered solution to stabilise the shaft and surrounding ground. This includes deep drilling and grouting of the shaft, installation of piled foundations, and construction of a reinforced concrete cap to fully seal and manage the historic mine entry.