Asbestos find disrupts archaeological dig at Chesterfield car park

Works were suspended until a strategy was agreed for the removal of asbestos material found during the dig, on Holywell Cross.

Chesterfield Borough Council said they wanted to reassure residents that the removal of the asbestos will 'be managed safely' by a specialist asbestos disposal company with those working on site wearing the appropriate protective clothing.

It is likely that the asbestos was left in place when the former properties based on the car park were demolished.

Works are expected to resume during week commencing September 16 to remove the asbestos with the archaeological team in attendance to monitor works and resume the archaeological dig when permitted to do so.

The works are scheduled to run for a week, although activity on site will continue as the archaeological investigation is completed.

During the removal of the asbestos, a 'water suppressant technique' will be used to prevent any contamination of the surrounding area and the remainder of the car park will be open as normal.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth said: “The safety of residents, visitors and businesses in the area is our number one priority and we will be removing the asbestos as quickly and carefully as possible using specialist disposal experts.

“The works will allow the archaeological investigation to recommence having been suspended at a key point of interest in the investigation."

WHAT HAVE ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVERED AT THE SITE SO FAR?

The investigation has revealed a large stone wall built in the northern part of the site, which appears to be earlier than any other buildings discovered so far.

It also lies on the line of a large ditch like feature which contained pottery dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

These will be subject to further investigation as the archaeological dig is concluded.

The archaeological investigations undertaken so far have identified the remains of a range of past human activity on the site dating back to the late medieval period. Features already unearthed include:

Old terrace housing located on the Saltergate frontage, at the rear of which were small brick-built structures and five wells containing debris. The dating of the debris suggests these were in use at differing times over the post-medieval period.

On the east side of the site near Saltergate, the west wall of former almshouses was identified, which appears to have been built on an earlier property boundary dated back to an earlier period. Evidence of former 19th and 20th century sheds / warehouses was also found.

In addition to the structural remains, artefacts have been recovered. The most numerous of which were fragments of pottery that dated from the 16th through to the 19th centuries. These also hint at pottery production nearby, whereas all previously known pottery production sites were located on the other side of town.

The completion of the archaeological dig will allow works to begin on the construction of the new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, which will offer a range of office suites to start up and growth companies in Chesterfield.