Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

So, whoever said demolition would be easy, obviously has not visited this site. The newest problem that we have faced involves a nearby hotel (a key stakeholder in the development), a blocked foul drainage pipe and an excavation full of yesterdays dinner!

Last week there was a distinct smell of faeces in a nearby pedestrian street. The PM mentioned this to the Construction Manager and asked him to investigate. The next day, said CM was moved to a new job (polite way of sacking someone in the civilian industry). Therefore the investigation never happened.

Yesterday morning the hotel manager contacted us through the liaison manager for the project to inform us of a drain that was backing up just outside of the hotels loading bay. The hotel is located uphill from the demolition site and the previously mentioned pedestrian street (a pedestrian street that was created as a temporary diversion at the start of this demolition).

The hotel loading bay – In the background the drainage SC

Carillion, being the forward leaning, considerate constructors that they are, offered to investigate. This consisted of a drainage sub-contractor opening a drain cover on the pedestrian street and saying “Oh yeah, that’s full of Sh*t”. They had already identified the bottom of the private drainage run, that was clear, so the problem lay somewhere in between the two. They are coming back this morning to try to jet the blockage and get the flow moving. 

Three tanker loads have been removed from the drain to buy some time.

First tanker from Burntwood SC

The cause of the blockage is yet to be established, although we think it was probably the SC who installed the pedestrian street and potentially damaged some of the pipes or left debris inside. However, previous drainage reports from prior to the street being installed, all mention debris in the system.

Votes on causes please:

1. Debris from street construction.
2. The hotel has eventually blocked it with their own fat/waste from kitchens and toilet paper from rooms.
3. The flow has reduced to a level below that required to keep the drains clear. The hotel is the top of the run and it’s occupancy has dropped since demolition started, the office block that also connects to the drain is now unoccupied.
4. Other.

In other news:

Laura is pregnant again – due mid November.

I have built a huge deck in my Garden – due May bank holiday!