Supply and installation of:-

• 440 GU8-600 cold formed steel sheet piles at 4.5m in length to form four permanent protective walls.

On the 28th July 2008 SPI were contracted by G F Tomlinson & Sons Ltd, who were in turn working on behalf of EDF Energy, to supply and install steel sheet piles along the Seymour drainage channel at Cottam Power Station near Retford.

The purpose of the piled walls is to prevent any further erosion or 'scouring' of the Seymour drainage channel especially during periods of heavy rainfall. The banks of the channel are susceptible to erosion because the predominant geology is soft silty sand. The soft ground conditions on site meant that the lightest plant possible had to be utilised. The installation of the piled walls was carried out using a 25 tonne tracked excavator equipped with a side grip vibratory hammer similar to a Movax. Transportation of materials around the site was also undertaken using a tracked excavator.

In total four walls were installed, two upstream and two downstream totalling 264 linear metres. Although driving the piles was relatively straight forward SPI were under strict instruction from the main contractor to be mindful and not harm any Gold Crested Newts which were suspected to be in the channel area.

All works were completed within four days as agreed with G F Tomlinson & Sons Ltd prior to commencement of the contract. No Newts were harmed during this project!