LETTER – Ground conditions well known

Your interesting article (August 4) showed the piles being used to guarantee the strength of parts of Spalding’s new western by-pass.

However, if – as stated – Spalding’s ground conditions necessitating the piling were only discovered while completing the design, somebody neglected to check on a well known phenomenon.

The old Gore Lane telephone exchange, built in 1938, rested on deep piles precisely to counter those ground conditions and ensure its stability when filled with heavy equipment. Here and there, small glass pieces were cemented into the external walls, so that visible warning would be given if they cracked. I believe that never happened.

On the other hand, the old Odeon cinema on London Road, built about 1937, did not have such foundations, and during its short life large cracks could be seen growing down its high walls.

Again, when the Coronation Channel was being constructed in the 1950s, the Low Roads bridge sank sideways somewhat during construction, and expensive corrective work had to be done.

I’m sure others could add many examples.

Incidentally, that telephone exchange was reckoned to be one of the finest buildings in South Lincolnshire.

When the exchange facilities were moved to a different location, the Gore Lane building came into the possession of the district council, which knocked it down, leaving only a rough and ready parking space.

John Tippler
Spalding