Over the last few years, we have been working on behalf of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council to deliver a landslide assessment to define the hazards and risks at Pantteg, a small village in the Swansea Valley. The landslide system is very active and further instability is likely to occur on a frequent basis.
The current phase of work started following ground movements in February 2017 and the residents were evacuated after further movement in June 2017, but the area has experienced stability issues since 1897.
We have carried out a Lidar survey of the village in addition to movement monitoring to create a hazard and risk map of the area. Local residents were given the opportunity to see a 3D fly-through model showing the landslip area and other detailed information at a public meeting, at which our Matthew Eynon presented to and answered questions from residents and other stakeholders.
“We have used huge resources and a large amount of public money and have engaged trusted geological experts to give residents in the Pantteg area a greater understanding of the land that surrounds them and which they live on”. “Earth Science Partnership is now providing residents in the Pantteg area with the most detailed information they possibly can about the risks posed by landslides which have plagued this area going back at least to the 1890s,” said Neath Port Talbot Council leader Rob Jones.
Through 2017 and 2018 our Matthew Eynon has been the Expert Witness for the Local Authority at the Residential Property Tribunal (Wales) for the evacuated premises at 84, 86 and 90-92 Cyfyng Road, Ystalyfera [RPT/0012/10/17, RPT/003/04/17 & RPT/003/10/17].
Our latest risk map is here along with our latest risk map narrative here.
Testimonial from the Head of Engineering & Transport (NPTCBC)
“The Earth Science Partnership have provided professional and technical advice for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council on a number of projects of different sizes and complexity since early 2015. Whilst working for the Council, they have provided a number of different ground investigation solutions and advice.”
They have also been appointed to advise on the high profile Pantteg and Godre’r Graig Landslide since 2015 and have provided a number of factual reports that are helping Neath Port Talbot to formulate a Management Strategy for the area.
Part of ESP’s work involved the production of a Ground Instability Risk Map of Pantteg and then a Residential Property Risk Map. They have also attended televised public meetings to discuss their findings following the publication of the work and have given Expert Witness evidence on behalf of Neath Port Talbot at Residential Property Tribunals.
As part of their works they have employed a number of techniques some of which are listed below:-
- Boreholes and log to a depth of 40m using traditional, tracked and slope climbing drilling rigs.
- Installation of piezometers and inclinometers.
- LiDAR surveys to establish and monitor land movements.
- Geophysical surveys to obtain Seismic Resonance Images of the sub stratas.
- Rain Gauges.
In closing, I can advise that we have had a positive experience in working with ESP and their employees who have always acted professionally and supplied information and reports within agreed timescales.”
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