Community backs Salisbury City Council’s solution for damaged Wyndham Park wall

On Tuesday 23 September, Salisbury City Council held a consultation event regarding the future of the walls at Wyndham Park. The event had a strong turnout, with residents expressing support for the proposed solution.

All three walls in Wyndham Park are in a poor condition due to their close proximity to mature trees, whose roots have damaged the wall footings causing a destabilising effect. Wall #3, on Wyndham Terrace, is of particular concern due to the significant lean recorded, posing a safety risk. The proposal discussed at the event focussed on using screw piling to address this wall first, with solutions for the other two walls to be considered in due course.

The screw piling method offers full stabilisation of the wall while preserving tree roots. Bespoke steel stabilising frames will be designed for easy installation, reducing the need for hot works permits. The approach further minimises vibrations and offers a reduction in noise level to approximately 72dB.

As some sections of the wall lean outwards while others lean inwards, two types of frames will be used, differing only in the inclusion of a restraint cross to support outward-leaning sections.

Work can commence on the screw piling as soon as planning is granted by Wiltshire Council, with repairs to the Wyndham Terrace wall taking place in the spring once the frosty winter months have passed.

Cllr Paul Sample, councillor for the St Edmund’s Ward, says, “It is nearly 30 years since I first asked for this wall to be repaired. Although I was promised it would be repaired it always seemed to slip through the gap.

“I am delighted that Salisbury City Council has consulted residents and come up with a solution that seems to have majority support in the community. The enclosed nature of this park is one of the things that makes the area so attractive. People around here value the built and natural environment.”

Cllr Sam Foster, councillor for the St Edmund’s Ward, added, “I am very grateful to everyone that helped us get to this result. This is a great example of what can be done when the cares of the residents are properly reflected by their council – by getting to a point where residents, councillors and officers all cared about finding the right solution, that solution was found…with the help, of course, of some clever experts to overcome the challenges posed.”