§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up an investigation into the causes of the landslide that blocked the A55 trunk road between Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr, in Gwynedd, with particular reference to any part in the triggering of the landslide that may have been played by test drilling undertaken in the area recently.
§ Mr. John Stradling ThomasThere is no evidence or reason to believe that there is a connection between this incident and the test drilling of rocks undertaken as part of the site investigation in the vicinity of Pen-y-Clip for the proposed new A55 road tunnel.
Generally rock falls or slips in such areas can be attributed to gradual erosion and cumulative weathering effects. It is considered that this is the most likely cause here.
As part of the investigations into the construction of the proposed road tunnels at Pen-y-Clip and Penmaenbach, the Department is to seek landowner's consent to the carrying out of a careful examination of the rock faces bordering the present trunk road to identify, and render safe, any rocks which experts consider could be loosened by the effects of blasting operations whilst the works are in progress.