Thornton 2 Waste Technology Park, Thornton, Cleveleys, Lancashire- Evaluation

Following the submission of an Environmental Statement by RPS Planning, Environment and Transport (RPS) on behalf of Lancashire County Council, planning permission was granted to redevelop the site of the former ICI Burn Hall site at Thornton, Cleveleys, Lancashire (site centred NGR SD 3334 4437) for the purpose of a proposed Waste Technology Park and the creation of an access road and roundabout. RPS commissioned Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) to undertake an archaeological evaluation, in accordance with their written scheme of investigation (WSI) prepared following consultation with the Lancashire County Archaeology Service (LCAS). Phase 1 of the evaluation comprised a topographic survey and magnetometer survey coordinated by OA North (ArchaeoPhysica 2005). Phase 2 comprised the excavation of a series of evaluation trenches. An initial configuration and location of ten trenches was made, based on previous work undertaken on the site for the purpose of the ES, including map regression analysis, topographical survey and a magnetometer survey. These targeted the proposed access road from the B5286. A further eight trenches were then added outside of the original proposed development area, to assess the archaeological potential in these areas. Two of these trenches were located in the vicinity of the access road and the remaining six in a field immediately to the north of the main ICI site. The evaluation work was undertaken over eleven days from 24th July to 7th August 2006. The results from this exercise will be used to inform a mitigation strategy to be imposed during construction and operation.