Houses face demolition after rail landslip

NETWORK Rail is to forcibly demolish two detached houses which have been deemed unsafe following a landslip onto the railway line below.

The route between Bradford Forster Square and Ilkley has been closed to trains for over a month after heavy rain caused a major slippage on the embankment in the village of Baildon.

Aerial photographs supplied by Network Rail at the time of the incident show that two detached properties’ gardens had fallen onto the tracks before clearance work was undertaken.

The houses are believed to be on a small private lane off Roundwood Road.

Engineers have now determined that both properties are structurally unsound and at risk of collapse, and they will be demolished to ensure the safety of passengers once the line re-opens in the summer.

Further wet weather since the landslide caused the condition of the slope to deteriorate.

Network Rail said alternative solutions to the issue had been dismissed due to the ‘complex nature’ of the site and statutory powers will now be invoked, likely involving compulsory purchase.

However, the rail infrastructure body declined to comment on the specifics of compensation arrangements for the affected homeowners, or whether the occupants’ alternative accommodation costs were being covered since their houses were declared dangerous.

A spokesperson said: "We have been in discussions with various third parties since this incident was first reported to us six weeks ago, but the complex nature of the site and the critical need to reopen the line means that regrettably, we now have no remaining options but to use our statutory powers to allow us to resume the repairs to this site which will allow trains to start running again."

A projected re-opening date has been given as the end of June.