In the past six months, the UK has seen multiple high-profile geological events. Two sinkholes, one of which was 20m long, closed a main road and caused houses to be evacuated in Godstone, Surrey. In Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales, a sinkhole estimated at 10m to 12m deep wreaked similar havoc in a quiet cul-de-sac. Also in south Wales was the Cwmtillery landslide. On New Year’s Day, a major embankment serving the Bridgwater Canal in Cheshire collapsed. More recently, a rockfall occurred on a residential road on the Isle of Wight, during a spell of unusually warm weather. 

These events are not completely out of the ordinary. After all, the UK is an island with varied geology. However, such incidents are increasing in frequency, and it is widely recognised that this trend will continue. This will mean a greater role for geotechnical engineers in investigating the potential for such events and their causes.

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