Investigations continue into collapsed Bramcote wall two weeks on

The cause of a wall collapse which closed a Bramcote road is still under investigation two weeks on, with no reopening date in sight. A section of an ancient wall near a spot on Town Street, known locally as Devil’s Bend, fell into the road on Sunday, April 9.

The road was already shut for gas works, and was due to reopen on April 18. However, Nottinghamshire County Council said on Monday, April 22, it is still looking into the cause of the collapse and how to safely repair the wall.

The Bramcote road will remain closed until further notice, the council says. Any repairs will be made to match the remaining brickwork, and the concrete used to strengthen them won’t be visible.

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The road is on the oldest Ordnance Survey maps of the area that have been found, and was likely cut into sandstone. The wall’s exact age is unknown, although it’s believed the upper and lower sections were built at separate times.

It is located in a conservation area, and the council’s senior practitioner for historic buildings has been involved, along with the Bramcote Conservation Society. Part of the wall, which is several meters tall, also fell down in 2021.

A detour has been put in place through Beeston for those unable to walk down the road. Independent Councillor Steve Carr, who represents the ward on Broxtowe District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, expressed fears the whole wall would need to be replaced shortly after the collapse.

"Fortunately, it was closed when it collapsed – goodness knows what would happen if there had been a car beneath it," he said. "The concern is that it’s compromised and could come down at any moment.

"It looks like it needs to be completely replaced. At the moment, the county council are trying to contact the landowners and find out who owns the wall."

Cllr Carr said there had been reports of people moving the barriers aside to drive down, and urged people to respect the road closure.