NORTHWICH’S future was saved ‘in the nick of time’ – paving the way for the regeneration project undertaken in recent years.

It was 25 years ago this month that Vale Royal Borough Council placed a development ban on much of the town centre, following a report revealing that collapsing salt mines could leave the town facing a subsidence crisis.

Four abandoned bottom bed mines under the town – Barons Quay, Neumann’s, Pennys Lane and Witton Bank – were found to be in danger of collapse as the salt pillars that held them up diminished, leaving the town again at risk of a surface level drop of up to four metres.

While many buildings had been built on frames that could be jacked up in response to 19th century subsidence, there were fears of further damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure – as well as floods.

Northwich Guardian:

A stark press conference in October 1994 saw the prospect of disaster within 40 years laid bare, with a development ban implemented on the area north of Witton Street while infilling took place.

VRBC leader Arthur Neil said: "In previous years people have been daunted by the prospect of tackling this issue, but now we have to look ahead and take this action before the next generation of development.”

According to Alan Hodkinson, VRBC’s director of development services, the council has been left with no option but to press on with the scheme.

He said: "We have to take preventative action now to secure the future of the town centre."

A Guardian comment following the announcement said: “Had the problem been allowed to drift on for many more years, the consequences for Northwich could have been horrific.

Northwich Guardian:

Guardian front page, October 1994

“Thanks to the council’s initiative and the government’s funding, it appears the town’s future has been secured in the nick of time.”

The ban brought fear to businesses, with the Mid Cheshire Chamber of Commerce urging prospective retailers to postpone their plans rather than look elsewhere.

But approved plans – including a scheme including five shops and parking on the site now housing Aldi – were abandoned.

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Mid Cheshire historian Paul Hurley said: “By the 1990s VRBC discovered that Northwich was still sinking, mainly through the existence of redundant mines, and work was required to infill at least four of them.

“Accordingly, no further development was allowed in the town centre, seriously damaging Northwich’s plans for the future.

Northwich Guardian:

“VRBC applied for funding to English Partnerships as part of the governments Land Stabilisation Programme.

“As a result they received funding for the project to infill the four mines, ensuring that the stability of the town centre could be assured and development allowed.”

The project, first estimated at £20 million, rising to £38 million – of which VRBC paid £5 million – was finally completed in 2007.

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It won a handful of awards for its innovation, with the void infilled in stages and then monitored.

Paul said: “It became the largest project of its kind in the world when 780,500 cubic metres of void, 90 metres below ground, was to be filled in using a mix of pulverised fuel ash grout.

“Due to the infill being into a rock salt area, the ash grout was to be mixed with brine to prevent it from being dissolved.

“As a result, Northwich was able to construct the Barons Quay development with its shops, entertainment venues and cinema.”