We’ve now fallen into row between council and water firm...
RESIDENTS evacuated after a huge sinkhole appeared in their street – destroying four houses and damaging others – say they are trapped in the middle of a ‘blame game’ over who should compensate them.
Some 25 affected people in Walmer Street, Abbey Hey, Gorton, could take legal action as Manchester city council (MCC) and water company United Utilities (UU) argue about which them is liable for the damage.
In the latest chapter of a saga that began when a car disappeared into the sinkhole on January 21 during Storm Christoph, residents have now been told they can return to their homes on November 1 following extensive repair work by council contractor Bethell.
A total of 17 houses were evacuated, four of which were eventually demolished. Residents put up in emergency accommodation by the council say they have been advised by the local authority to get structural surveys to confirm their houses are safe – but told they would have to foot the bill themselves.
In a letter to residents, the council said its building control team will inspect the properties to ensure they are not dangerous, but this would not count as a full structural survey.
It has also advised homeowners and private landlords to ‘speak to their insurance companies’ to undertake structural survey, but the solicitor representing the residents, Ben Taylor, says most of them have no insurance. He told the M.E.N.: “There seems to be a dispute between UU and MCC as to who is liable for the damage. Equally, no one is talking to me. I have written to UU asking to see the survey reports and exploration results as to the cause of the sinkhole, but they refuse to communicate with me. It looks like there was a problem in the street probably a year before the sinkhole appeared.”
He said that one theory is there may have been a burst water pipe under the surface of the road resulting in the undersoil being washed away as the Tarmac above acted as a crust with a huge void underneath.
Resident Barry Locke said: “I think it’s appalling that we are being told to pay for our own structural surveys.
“MCC and UU have not covered themselves in glory. They are conducting a blame game with us in the middle. One thing is for certain, no one can blame what happened to these houses as an ‘act of God.’
“I do know that there was a water leak reported here in August of last year. We are seriously considering legal action.”