Housing chiefs bid to avoid court battle over collapsed wall
A housing association in Erskine has called for “understanding” from Renfrewshire Council as it looks to avoid a dispute over a collapsed wall going to court.
Bridgewater Housing Association says it does not want to be at loggerheads with the local authority regarding who should front the cost for a wall that collapsed at the beginning of last year.
Works have started on demolishing what is left of the brick wall in Park Winding and rebuilding it with reinforced concrete.
Bridgewater’s contracted engineer believes the wall supports the steep embankment, public roadway and adjacent footway, which are adopted and maintained by Renfrewshire Council.
However, the council has a different opinion and says the responsibility lies completely with the housing association because the wall is on Bridgewater land.
It also said it “had no involvement in the decision to repair the wall as it does not provide support to the structure of the adjacent road or pavement”.
Tenants at the housing association have been asked to fork out £132 each to help cover the cost of the work.
Gary Stapleton, technical services manager at Bridgewater Housing Association, was grilled by concerned residents at a recent Erskine Community Council meeting.
He dismissed claims the housing association had been “pliant” in its dispute with the council and revealed the body was seeking legal counsel.
Mr Stapleton has since asked for a “mutual understanding” between the housing association and the council.
He said: “We need to do everything possible to demonstrate to owners that are going to have to pay a share that we have done everything possible to get other parties to contribute.
“The only other party is the council and they’re saying they don’t have a responsibility.
“We are going to take legal advice that will clarify the picture for all parties – us the council and the individual owners.
“We would have to take a view on the advice we were given. If it was cut and dried we would take it further. If there’s any ambiguity then we have got to look at the risks in taking it forward.
“We will get the advice so we are clear about it in the future. In this particular case I don’t think it’s something we will pursue in court.
“Not unless we get legal advice contrary to that. We are going to get advice that we will happily share with the council.
“We want mutual advice and understanding rather than being at loggerheads in court.
“Someone said we were being pliant and I don’t think that’s the case.”
We want mutual advice and understanding rather than being at loggerheads in court