Update on the problem, regarding a 200ft sinkhole found in Birley Woods just behind Birley Moor Garden Centre. It is believed the sinkhole may lead to Dent Main Colliery.
The 15th Hole on the Birley Moor Golf Course stands Approx: 650ft above sea Level. Birley Moor Garden Centre stands Approx: 438ft above sea Level a difference of 212ft. In the wet conditions, rain water cascades down from Birly Moor Golf Course and floods Moor Valley Road. Some of the water funnels down the culvert into the Ochre Dyke. But the drains cannot cope with the vast volumes of water so water pours onto Owlthorpe Heritage and Nature Trail.
We can all see what happens to the water above ground but what happens underground?
Feedback from miners explain that when a drift mine collapses it can stretch for miles underground. How safe are the flooded mine workings in Owlthorpe?
We are looking to find out more information about the flooded Collieries that run under Owlthorpe. Has anybody got copies of the plans of the workings of the Collieries that we could print online so residents of Owlthorpe can see exactly what may be happening under their properties? We are looking for underground maps of exactly where coal was extracted from Dent Main and Moor hole Collieries.
We are aware that water had to be pumped out of the colliery into the Ochre Dyke when the collieries were open to stop the miners from drowning. How is the water pumped out of the Collieries after they closed, and who is responsible? We have asked The Environment Agency about ochre in this video: https://www.ecological-owlthorpe.org/Ochredyke2.mp4 they say this site is 1.5km upstream of the main river (Environment Agency maintained river) The river here is classed as an ordinary watercourse and will be the responsibility of Sheffield City Council.
The first Sheffield South East Local Committee public meeting after the Sinkhole was reported, is 12th September 2024. We have submitted a report and Questions, we hope to have some answers?
A big thank you to all who have provided information to date.
Michael Meredith