27/01/2011 02:47 PM
Temporary security fencing has been put up around unguarded mineshafts which were only discovered when a man went walking through woodland.
David Brooks, from Tyldesley in Lancashire, was strolling through fields in his hometown when he came across what looked like two uncapped mine shafts on the site of a former colliery, thisislancashire.co.uk reports.
He told the news provider he had been told as a child that some of the shafts could be 300ft deep.
"I carefully approached the lip of one of the shafts looking for a cap and got as near as I dare. I felt unsafe and went no nearer but still I couldn't see the bottom," he said.
After contacting councillor Steve Hellier, who in turn contacted the Coal Authority, security measures were introduced to protect the public.
"The original shafts were 187 metres deep. We needed to know about this and we'll erect temporary fencing immediately," Coal Authority engineer Ian Hughes told the news provider.
"Once we have established who owns the land, a long term solution will be put in place. This will probably include topping up the cap, permanent fencing and annual inspections."
Engineers from the Coal Authority, after inspecting the shafts, discovered that the caps on them had not completely disappeared but had sunk down.
Nevertheless, Mr Hellier said that anyone falling in would possibly become trapped and seriously injured.
Recently, it was announced that a steel grille could be fitted to the entrance to a mineshaft in which a young girl fell to her death while on holiday in Perranporth, Cornwall.
David Brooks, from Tyldesley in Lancashire, was strolling through fields in his hometown when he came across what looked like two uncapped mine shafts on the site of a former colliery, thisislancashire.co.uk reports.
He told the news provider he had been told as a child that some of the shafts could be 300ft deep.
"I carefully approached the lip of one of the shafts looking for a cap and got as near as I dare. I felt unsafe and went no nearer but still I couldn't see the bottom," he said.
After contacting councillor Steve Hellier, who in turn contacted the Coal Authority, security measures were introduced to protect the public.
"The original shafts were 187 metres deep. We needed to know about this and we'll erect temporary fencing immediately," Coal Authority engineer Ian Hughes told the news provider.
"Once we have established who owns the land, a long term solution will be put in place. This will probably include topping up the cap, permanent fencing and annual inspections."
Engineers from the Coal Authority, after inspecting the shafts, discovered that the caps on them had not completely disappeared but had sunk down.
Nevertheless, Mr Hellier said that anyone falling in would possibly become trapped and seriously injured.
Recently, it was announced that a steel grille could be fitted to the entrance to a mineshaft in which a young girl fell to her death while on holiday in Perranporth, Cornwall.
Top