Chester’s historic Roman walls - city council update

May 2 2008 Chester Chronicle

CHESTER City Council has issued an update on the situation concerning the historic Roman Walls.

Chester City Council closed a 30 metre section of the walls on April 3 in the interests of public safety after part of the ancient monument collapsed.

An exclusion zone been firmly secured around the scene of the collapse alongside the Chester Grosvenor hotel and at the rear of adjacent properties. This is being patrolled by community safety wardens and the police have also increased their presence in the area.

The council is closely monitoring the situation through regular inspections and is in the process of planning for a full survey of the whole walls circuit in line with its Conservation Management Plan.

Emergency scaffolding to support part of the city walls alongside the Grosvenor Hotel has been completed.

The council is now working with English Heritage and independent surveyors to design a temporary structure to shore up the wall so that a more detailed inspection and laser scanning (for archaeological purposes) can take place. This will inform plans for longer-term support, which will allow for the reconstruction of the wall.

If further investigations conclude that we could safely provide a level walkway around the affected section of walls then this will be done. If this is technically, legally or financially too difficult then the existing diversions will continue until further notice. The diversions have had to take account of using the pedestrian crossing.

The timescales of the total project will depend upon the extent of the damage and the complexity of the solutions.

Work has also started to support a further section of wall behind properties on St. John Street. This is being done as a precautionary measure due to its proximity to the recent collapse.

The opening of Cruise nightclub will not be affected by the work and the venue will open to the public as scheduled on 3 May.

Once completed, both temporary structures, which are at either end of the closed walkway, will allow closer inspections of the wall to inform future interventions.

A web page is being created which will feature regular updates, diversion routes and the walls heritage trail – www.chester.gov.uk/citywalls

Access to the Eastgate Clock and Newgate walls is not affected.

Anecdotally, the blue badge guides and Roman Tours aren't getting any adverse feedback.

Permanent signage diverting people walking along the walls are now in place.