Infrastructure and Utility Schemes - Ground Investigation (July 2009)
Southern Testing have recently completed a number of major ground investigations for transport infrastructure and utility schemes in the UK.
Projects include ground investigation works for;
- East Sussex County Council in connection with the new £89m Bexhill to Hastings Link Road;
- Preliminary works for the Highways Agency on the A21 Kipplings Cross to Lamberhurst Improvement Scheme;
- Works on 4 sites for Southern Water on the multi-million Canterbury Growth Phase 2 wastewater investment scheme.
Click here for further details. read more
Bexhill to Hastings Link Road - Ground Investigation (December 2008)
Southern Testing has been appointed as the specialist Ground Investigation Subcontractor for the new £89m Bexhill to Hastings Link Road.
The site of the proposed link road comprises mostly agricultural land, but includes areas of overgrown former railway cuttings, a derelict council yard and, at the western end, passes through a former waste transfer depot and former terrace of houses.
The British Geological Survey map indicates the site to be underlain by mostly Ashdown Beds siltstones/sandstones with some Alluvium and Wadhurst Clay, and the aim of the investigation is to
- Provide the nature and condition of the ground and groundwater along the route, and
- Allow geotechnical design of earthworks and foundations, and
- Provide an understanding of geotechnical risks and information regarding any ground contamination.
The intrusive works valued at over £400,000 include up to 175 trial pits to depths up to 3m, 91 cable percussive boreholes (150mm diameter) to between 10 and 15m, with 25 of these extended by rotary drilling to depths of up to 20m, and 6 CPT holes.
The site work commenced in December 2008 and will be completed in early 2009.
Brownfield Briefing Innovation Awards (September 2008)
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Southern Testing were Runners Up in the Category 'Best use of a Combination of Remediation Techniques' at the 2008 Brownfield Briefing Remediation Innovation Awards for their work at the Former Hampton Court Gas Works Site, which is currently being redeveloped by Linden Homes. The Judges noted that "the project demonstrated strong application of cutting edge techniques to a very traditional site problem and praised its design and management". read more
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The category winners were Olympic Park Authority for the Olympic Park Project.
In 2006, Southern Testing won a Brownfield Briefing Remediation Innovation Award for "Best Use of Combined Systems" at Tunbridge Wells Gas Works in Kent . read more
Appointment of new directors (July 2008)
Southern Testing are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Joe Kelly and Dr Lawrence Mockett as Company Directors.
After completing his doctorate in Environmental Geochemistry Dr Kelly joined Southern Testing in the early part of 1997, following graduation from Imperial College. During the next 9 years, he gained a wealth of experience in the assessment and remediation of contaminated land, including the innovative remediation project at Tunbridge Wells Gasworks. In early 2006 Dr Kelly was appointed Regional Manager at our new office in Northampton (known as ST Consult). The success of this venture owes much to the hard work of Joe and his team. Joe is a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists. |
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Dr Mockett has a background in Geology and joined Southern Testing in 1990 after completing doctoral research in Engineering Geology at Southampton University. During his time at Southern Testing, he has accumulated a very broad range of experience in geotechnical and geoenvironmental site investigation, risk assessment and remediation. Dr Mockett has particular interests in land gas and groundwater contamination and has successfully completed further postgraduate study in Hydrogeology at UCL, including a research project in partnership with the Environment Agency, investigating the impact of effluent discharges to the Chalk aquifer. |
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Go4Set Celebration and Assessment Day
Since November last year, students from Uplands School in Wadhurst and Sackville School in East Grinstead have been busy working on a challenging project organised by Go4SET - a new Engineering Development Trust (EDT) initiative - to stimulate the interest of young people in Science, Engineering andTechnology(SET).
| Working with Steve Mason, their technology teacher, and Laura Brearley from Southern Testing, 6 students from Uplands School worked on developing a system of water conservation at Uplands school. This involved visiting Southern Testing offices in East Grinstead and examining the efforts they currently make to conserve water. The team then returned to school and spent until February producing a plan, report and model of their proposal to save water at Uplands. The proposal was to use the roof of the PE block as a water collection area and intercept the down pipe with an ultra violet water purifying system and then flavour and bottle the water for sale to students. |  |
The students at Sackville School proposed collecting rainwater from 'A' block and channeling via a buried pipe to the Art room, where there was a 'green' sink and also serving the football boot wash, which didn't need tap water. Their mentors were Stuart Pratt from Southern Tesing and teachers Hilary Morgan and Jim Roberts.
The results of their labour were presented to several senior engineers from industry in competition with several other local schools. water for sale to students.
The team from Uplands won the 'Innovation Award' and also were voted the 3rd best project by the students from the other competing schools. Sackville won the students second choice.
Southern Testing Celebrates 40 Years of Quality
To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Southern Testing and to acknowledge the retirement of our Chaiman Mike Hickmott, who has served as Managing Director for over 25 years, the Company held a party for staff and some long standing clients at Lingfield Racecourse. Mike had the honour of presenting the prize for the 'Hickmott Handicap' to the winning owner.
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