Quake ‘had no effect on threatened houses’
An earthquake which hit Swansea earlier this year had no effect on threatened homes said to pose an “immediate danger to life”, according to an expert.
Residents living in the Swansea Valley are fighting to stay in their properties despite a series of landslips which the council say has left buildings unsafe to live in.
Four people are challenging an evacuation order issued by Neath Port Talbot Council on three homes in Cyfyng Road, Ystalyfera. They say the properties are on firm ground and a threat of further landslips can be easily solved.
The council imposed Emergency Prohibition Orders (EPOs) on the three properties after being advised by its consultant geologists, Earth Science Partnership, there was “an immediate danger to life” from landslides concerning the terrace of homes. A hearing held by the Residential Property Tribunal at a Cardiff hotel yesterday heard evidence from a civil engineer who said the landslip was caused by water from a broken culvert.
Speaking on behalf of his client, Richard Morrison, Roy Carroll said his house was built on “firm ground” and there was no evidence of structural movement of the property itself.
He said: “Underneath the house is very heavy boulder clay which was found to be bone-dry during investigations.”
Asked whether a February 18 earthquake with its epicentre five miles away in Cwmllynfell had affected the property, he replied: “No, it didn’t.
“It tells me the original landslide was caused by water ingress and made-up gardens rather than a massive geological movement.”
He added: “I think it could be resolved very quickly; it would take the culvert being piped all the way down to the canal. In my expert opinion, unless the water is solved there is a risk of another landslip.”
In total residents in 10 homes were told to leave the row of houses after the landslips in the Swansea Valley, the most recent of which happened in August.
Most of those served with the EPOs in August 2017 have now been relocated.
Acting for Neath Port Talbot council, lawyer Stephen Cottrell said the council believes there were a number of contributory factors to the landslips and questioned why residents had not commissioned engineers to assess the stability of the land rather than just their properties.
Sally Richards, a resident living lower down in the same street, represented the three other residents – Amanda Hopkins, Tom Rees and Paul Harris – who are appealing the council’s decision to evacuate them.
Panel chairman Christopher McNall said he hoped to give a decision on Friday with the reasons to follow in a report at a later date.