THE final phase of works to stabilise a collapsed section of Chester’s ancient city walls is now complete.

Chester City Council closed a 30 metre section of the Roman and medieval city walls after part of the ancient monument alongside the Grosvenor Hotel collapsed last April.

A team of surveyors, engineers and archaeologists has been working since then to resolve the situation.

The stabilisation work has included installing of props and anchors to support the internal face of the wall to stop any further risk of immediate collapse.

As part of this work, scaffolding has been erected to allow access on to the site for the workers who will eventually reconstruct the walls next year.

Laser scanning and a radar survey of the collapsed section have also been carried out to help experts better understand the reasons for the collapse and predict any weak spots in adjoining sections.

This information and the results of other structural surveys will be used to develop proposals for the dismantling and reconstruction of the damaged section, which will use as much existing masonry as possible.

The restoration work is expected to start next spring with archaeologists recording the position and structure of the wall as it is dismantled and rebuilt.

A diversionary route for pedestrians has been in operation since April and the site is being patrolled by community safety wardens and the police.

Engineers are now investigating the possibility of installing a temporary high level visitor walkway around the collapsed section so people can see the work in progress.

Meanwhile Chester City Council and English Heritage are also working on a programme to remove weeds and other vegetation from the rest of the two mile ancient monument and visitor attraction in 2009.