Residents in Cradley Heath are anxious as a massive landslide threatens their homes and access to the estate
Cradley Heath: Residents are really worried about their homes after a big landslide. It all started last March when a wall gave way, and now the ground is slipping more and more.
They tried using sandbags, but with all the bad weather lately, tons of earth have come down, blocking the road to their cul-de-sac. About a dozen homeowners can’t even drive to their houses anymore.
This estate is owned by Dunedin Homes, but no one seems to be taking charge of the situation. People have to park far away and walk through neighbors’ gardens just to get home.
To make things worse, the street lights aren’t working, even though they’ve been installed for almost five years. It’s pretty dark and dangerous, especially with the landslide getting worse.
Some folks in nearby High Haden Crescent are also scared of losing their homes as a giant landslide is wrecking their gardens. Reece, an engineer living on the estate, says it’s been a nightmare.
He hasn’t been able to use his driveway since March, and he’s worried the landslide will reach his garden. With a one-year-old at home, it’s been tough not having easy access.
Rachael, a firefighter, lives nearby and says the lack of street lighting makes everything worse. She’s not cut off like some neighbors, but it’s still a hassle with people parking everywhere.
Both Reece and Rachael agree that the council should step in, even though they say it’s a private road. They’re paying council tax, so they feel like they should get some help.
Reece thinks the road should have been designed differently to prevent this. The developers and the council have been contacted, but it seems like no one wants to take responsibility.
In a statement, Dunedin Homes said they understand it’s their responsibility to fix the slope, but they don’t accept liability. They’ve started some work but had to pause for the holidays.
Sandwell Council is in touch with the developer, trying to figure out what’s being done. Residents just want to feel safe in their homes again.
