FURTHER exploratory work is starting at Drake Gardens in Tavistock this week, to gather more information on 19th Century shallow mine workings in the area. This latest investigation by West Devon Borough Council, which is being funded by a £60,000 Government grant from English Partnerships, will give sufficient detailed data to allow a remediation scheme to be planned and costed for the area. Six properties in the area have been vacated over the last two years for safety reasons. The borough council is hopeful that any remediation scheme will attract a further Government grant to allow it to go ahead. The residents of Drake Gardens have all been informed of the investigation and the work is being supervised on behalf of the council by Tavistock engineering consultants Frederick Sherrell. Investigations are also continuing into shallow mine workings at Pencreber Road in Horrabridge by Annington Homes, where the borough council is hoping to carry out some remediation work later in the year. Annington Homes has already completed some work and also demolished some affected properties and is in the process of rebuilding them. The site was a former MoD estate and over 40 remain empty. It is the goal of the borough council together with Devon County Council and the housing company to bring these properties back into use once the investigations have been completed.
