A group of worried homeowners have been told they will have to fork out £450,000 to fix a collapsed wall which has left their properties in danger of falling into a river.
The four properties in Ystradgynlais, Powys, south-west Wales, were put at risk when the wall which bridged the gap between their gardens and the River Tawe collapsed in February after heavy rain.
Neighbours in the former mining town say they are now ‘terrified of going to sleep’ over fears their houses will slip away.
The families have appealed to Powys Council to foot the repair bill – but officials say: ‘It’s nothing to do with us’, claiming it is a matter for the owners and Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
But NRW has also refused to accept responsibility for the wall and added it did not have the powers fund a replacement.
The four properties were put at risk when the wall between their homes to the River Tawe collapsed in February after heavy rain
Kevin Davies, who has lived in the riverside home his whole life, says he and neighbours Imogen and Justin Crewe all ‘evacuate’ their homes during bad weather.
The 56-year-old said: ‘I’ve had many sleepless nights over it. I’ve had ill health, it’s not only a financial worry but it’s affecting our physical and mental health.
‘We’re terrified because it’s just a constant worry about what will we’ll see when we wake up in the morning.’
Mr Davies first reported his concerns more than 10 years ago after a sinkhole developed at the bottom of his garden.
After the council told him they couldn’t help, he looked through their archives and found that the wall was initially built by what was Brecon Council in 1912 after floods in the area.
‘That’s obviously now Powys council, so it’s still their responsibility,’ he said.
‘They’re trying to say it’s our responsibility, but all of the evidence we’ve accumulated has pointed to the fact that the council is the owner of the wall.’
The four properties were put at risk when the wall between their homes to the River Tawe collapsed in February after heavy rain
Mr Davies has now teamed up with neighbours Justin and Imogen Crewe to hire a barrister to fight their case.
The Crewes live next door with their six-month-old son Freddie, and two-year-old son Hari.
Mrs Crewe said: ‘We just don’t feel safe. It’s a reminder every time you leave the front door or look out the window there’s a hole at the end of your garden.’
The couple said they had hired a structural engineer who estimated the cost of repairing the wall would be £450,000.
‘The fact that we’re expected to pay that is ridiculous. It’s the council’s property not ours,’ Mr Crewe said.
‘They’ve got to have some sort of budget to facilitate helping people like us.
‘We don’t want our children getting hurt in any way… it’s terrifying.’
Powys Council recognised the concerns of Llys Tawel residents but said it was ‘unfortunately unable to provide assistance for replacement of the wall’.
The families have appealed to Powys Council to foot the repair bill – but officials say: ‘It’s nothing to do with us’
A spokesperson said: ‘Currently there is no identified liability for the wall and therefore it is a matter for the affected parties and Natural Resources Wales as the relevant authority for the main river.’
However, NRW claimed it was not the owner of the land on which the wall lies and did not categorise it as a flood defence.
They added: ‘Because of this, we do not have any legislative powers or responsibility to maintain or repair the wall.
‘Our powers do not allow us to spend taxpayers’ money to repair a private asset.’