Man’s ‘shock’ after 30ft hole gapes garden
A MAN has spoken of his ‘shock’ after discovering a 30-foot hole in his back garden.
Gerald O’Conner, 47, of Tofts Grove, Rastrick, said he was doing a spot of gardening during lockdown when he found the six-foot wide 30-foot deep well.
Mr O’Conner says he is now ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ with Calderdale Council to get the well filled-in and restructured after being told he and his neighbours must not use the access point to his rear garden due to safety concerns.
He said: “I was digging up the land, which is shared with my neighbour.
“When I came back to it the next day there was a huge hole. “I’ve lived in my home for 18 years and I was never told there was a well underneath it.
“I found out there was a mill on the plot of land before my house was built in 1989, as well as a reservoir less than 200 yards of the well, which I suspect runs under my home too.”
Mr O’Conner spoke of his initial reaction.
He said: “I said ‘holey-moley’, I was in shock. When you come across issues with your home you usually call the plumber or electrician; who do I call for this?
“It’s been stressful because if I ever want to sell my home, this will definitely stop any sale going through and drop the value. I have a two-year-old granddaughter. I have to make sure she stays well away from it.
“My neighbours and I have cats which we’ll have to constantly monitor. Oddly enough I’ve considered starting a mini landfill business and making use of the well. It’s not safe and I want it taken seriously.”
Calderdale Council’s Planning head, Richard Seaman said: “Officers established the hole did not pose a risk to either the building or retaining wall and as it’s on private land, advice was given to the home- owners that they should contact their insurance companies.”
A spokeswoman from York- shire Water said: “Our team investigated the site to confirm it’s not connected to our clean water or sewer pipes and shouldn’t have impact on local supply.”
Member of the Rastrick Lo- cal History Group, Andy Eccles said: “The former Crowtrees Mill, which sat on the site, was owned by the Clay family, who were textile manufacturers from the mid-1800s in Rastrick.”
The mill closed in the late 1960s before being demolished.
“I was in shock; who do I call for this? It’s not safe and I want it taken seriously.”
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