Garden holes '˜hell' for couple

A Langwith couple say they are being plagued by holes that keep appearing in their back garden, due to'¨ subsidence.
Ann and David Edmunds who have an unresolved subsidence problem in the garden of their Woodland View home in Langwith.Ann and David Edmunds who have an unresolved subsidence problem in the garden of their Woodland View home in Langwith.
Ann and David Edmunds who have an unresolved subsidence problem in the garden of their Woodland View home in Langwith.

Pensioners Ann,68, and David,75, Edmunds first noticed signs of subsidence in their council bungalow two years ago. They have reported problems of walls cracking and foot-deep holes appearing in the garden.

But despite visits from Bolsover District Council to their home on Woodland View, they said that the problem is no closer to being fixed.

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Ann, who struggles to walk unaided, said: “I can’t begin to tell you how many people we have had to the house to do estimations, there must have been 10 at least. They keep leaving it and leaving it. I have just had enough.

“Since 2015 we have seen three holes appear on the garden. We don’t know when the next is coming.

“The garden is uneven and to get outside I have to be holding on to my husbands arm.

“I would just like a garden where I can go and sit outside. I love my plants and I just would like to be able to look at them without worrying about the ground.”

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The council have reported that the subsidence area is due to historic mining.

Ann said:“They originally told us that it was to do with tree roots rotting under the house. Our bungalow is apparently leaning by 11mm. Cracks are appearing under the kitchen window.”

A spokesman from the council said: “A contractor went to look at the property last week. Having multiple people going out to the property is part of a normal process.”

The council opened up the holes to see if they could find the problem, Ann said: “They are three foot wide deep now and a foot wide, they have fenced them off properly. But we have my grandchildren play in the garden.

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“I have now been told by them that they want to lower the whole garden and take down a shed which the council have just put up.”

Ann also told your Chad how her neighbours are also struggling with subsidence concerns.

Vicky Parsons, 44, Ann and David’s daughter said: “My mum Ann is confined to the bungalow as she has a spinal problem and has to walk with sticks. It is a lovely little bungalow but a walk in the garden is the only way she can walk as when she does out for trips it takes so much out of her and she struggles to recover.

“You can get a metre stick down some of the holes. She can’t peg the washing out in the state the garden is in.

“I am worried that with the uneven ground that she will fall and really damage herself.”

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