FURTHER investigations are to be carried out into small pockets of land in Horrabridge that may be affected by past mine working activity. West Devon Borough Council and Government agency English Partnerships have each put £70,000 into the latest works which started this week in the village. The new works are the final phase of a multi-agency project in which the council has taken the lead to investigate mining activities carried out in the area during the 18th and 19th century. The initial investigations are expected to be completed before Christmas. Over the last two years, extensive surveys have been carried out which have given large areas of the village a clean bill of health. Two small areas of land on the village recreation field and in Pencreber Road will be surveyed. Dave Banks, the council?s head of regulatory services, said: ?A lot of the follow up work is to identify precisely abnormalities that have been identified by the original survey. ?Old septic tanks or areas of land that have been filled in could be just a few of the reasons why we need to make further checks.? The work is being supervised by Tavistock-based consultant engineers Frederick Sherrell Ltd. The council is working in partnership with Dartmoor National Park Authority, Annington Homes Ltd, Horrabridge Parish Council, Copperfields Residents? Association, West Devon Homes and the Environment Agency and Devon County Council. The council has also held discussions with utilities Transco, South West Water and Western Power. West Devon Borough Cllr David Cloke and Cllr Debo Sellis, who represent the area. both welcomed the survey. Cllr Cloke said: ?It?s good news for the residents and the village community as a whole that we are now moving into the final chapter of this survey. ?Hopefully, the completed work will provide a boost to the village, the local businesses and the school.? Cllr Sellis said: ?This is an exciting time for the residents of Horrabridge. ?The village has had a large no-go area for a long time which impacts on the whole community. ?The regeneration and a clean bill of health will be testament to the massive commitment of the residents, the parish and the borough councils.?