Well, putting aside the structural/engineering problems for a moment, one thing about Update 16 is blinding clear - it's an exercise in smokescreen reporting. Expressions like, "...support in a cyclical nature." (replacing old tunnel supports for new ones?) "...an area of failed chalk..." (areas where original material have collapsed?) and longwinded, pseudo techno-speak such as, "They are currently considering the potential mechanisms that may have lead to this crater being formed, with a possible hypothesis being that the area beneath the 2000 shaft crater remained in unstable and loose condition, and one (or more) latent voids associated with the 1776 shaft collapse, which were seen during it's (sic) inspection during late 2000, may have remained open or very loosely filled, and that the current void is the result of the disturbances caused by the discovery of the large central void which was created by the progressive collapse of the Merewether and Atkinson tunnels since they were abandoned." Only to be followed by, "The tunnelling works will continue to complete excavating the central zone, and allow backfilling to commence prior to filling the hill-top crate, as per the original programme of works. In the interim, so temporary support measures will be used to ensure the hill-top crater remains stable until it can be safely filled."

Wot!!! This sounds like one of Officer Plod's reports, "While proceeding in a northerly direction milord... " A course in plain English, not to mention clear reporting, is called for here methinks!

As for, "This week saw the closure of the Visitor Information Point as the interpretation officers have other commitments within English Heritage." Mmm... would have thought that as the 'conservation' programme reaches its most critical stage this is the very time when the information point should be open - if not every day then certainly at weekends.