Professor Peter Doyle is a parent at our school and a consultant geologist. He has read our ground investigation report which was commissioned by our new build contractors, in preparation for the construction work.

Professor Doyle has commented on the report :-

" I have read the report which is interesting, and confirms what one mioght expect from a study of Churchfields park; that made ground (artificial surface layers) and naturally occuring gravels(The woodford gravels, placed there during the ice age) allow fluids to pass throuth them until they meet the London clay beneath. London clay is impermeable (lacks connected pore spaces) and any such fluids will sit(perch) on top. You will see this in the winter when Churchfields park becomes boggy and there is run off water down the slope. This is why the report recommends that the gravels and made ground waste materials are placed at depth- as these will have 'soaked up' waste water over the years, capped with impermeable clay. This is normal practice.