Buckled Wiltshire road used as skate park finally repaired

A stretch of country road in Wiltshire that was so badly buckled in a landslip it became a hotspot for skateboarders and BMX riders, who used its wild undulations for spins, jumps and flips, has finally been fixed three years on.

The 140-metre stretch of the B4069 was broken up and shifted 25 metres downhill after heavy rain in February 2022.

It resulted in misery for people living in and around Lyneham but, briefly, became a vibrant playground for thrill-seekers who enjoyed the angles and elevations created.

Wiltshire council closed the road, put in diversion and ordered people not to walk, skateboard or cycle on the stretch, warning them they could be in breach of a traffic order if they did so and be prosecuted.

For such a small stretch of road, it turned out to be a major engineering project costing about £5m, but it was finally reopened to traffic on Wednesday.

The council said it had no choice but to repair the road rather than finding a new route because it carried more than 5,500 vehicles a day.

A painstaking fix began with months of assessment, including drilling 31 boreholes and 21 trial pits, as well as extensive sampling and monitoring of water levels and ground movement to establish the cause and extent of the landslip.

Analysis showed the landslip was probably caused by a combination of factors, including historical weaknesses, increased groundwater and additional loading owing to nearby development.

The repaired section of the B4069 at Lyneham. Photograph: Tom Wren/SWNS

The council has stabilised a section of the hill that collapsed with the construction, including installing a piled retaining wall and ground anchors. A series of drainage systems has been installed in the area to help manage groundwater flows.

The council has tried to make the best of the project, including having the engineers, managers, planners and surveyors on the scheme attend a careers fair in Wiltshire to inspire young people to join the industry. College students were offered placements on the rebuild.

Parvis Khansari, the council’s corporate director, said: “We’re delighted that the B4069 Lyneham Banks has finally reopened after several years of hard work to both restore the road and introduce measures to prevent the land from slipping again.

“The closure has had a real effect on the local community and we thank them for their patience and understanding.”