More wall woes

[Pford75]

We had a bit of a disaster at the weekend

Some may recall that we have had a problem with a flooded road outside our property. Well on Friday night (at about 11pm) the heavy rain and constant splashing took their toll and we had a section collapse into the road.

Having cleared the road, we attempted to get someone from Highways or even the Police to come and close a section of the road (since further collapse was a strong probability...especially since the flooding was still there and the rubble core was exposed). Even though we are on a blind corner, with no street lighting...noone wanted to come out and cone a section of the road.

So, prepare yourselves for another interminably dull thread on rebuilding a flint wall :?

 

[Moo]

That'll larn yer to go mucking about with lime.

Next time, use good old cement.

 

[Flyfisher]

Not another £100k claim, I hope!

I don't suppose there is any chance of getting compensation from the council for not clearing the blocked drain?

 

[skier-hughes]

Make sure you note who you spoke to and at what times, to cover yourself against any problems. Speak to your insurers as well, which I suspect you may well have done already!!

Graham

 

[Pford75]

Yep - The council were notified more than 6 months ago (the problem being due to a developer blocking the drainage ditch into which the storm drains connected).

They have verbally accepted liability and have passed me on to their 'public liability claims team'. However, until the ditch is redug (tricky since it is now in a private garden), there is nothing to be done in the way of repairs. Hoping now to get it sorted in time to start work in the Spring

Andrew - If you are reading....will be in touch as soon as NCC have sorted the drains

 

[Penners]

Bad luck Pford75. It sounds as though you're currently suffering a period of "one step forward, two steps back".

 

[Pford75]

An update & Some good news today....

Well, last week we received a notice from the District Council Building Control declaring the wall as a 'dangerous structure' and serving notice on us to dismantle the wall within 28 days or they will seek a Magistrate's Court order.

But to cut a long (very long) story short, the County Council (on behalf of highways) have agreed to meet the costs of having the dangerous section dismantled and temporary fencing erected (in advance of a LBC application in the Spring). So the contractors descend this weekend...road closure, and 3 panels to be made safe. Will post some pics soon

 

[Penners]

Have they committed themselves to when they will remove the temporary fence and make good the wall?

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, I wondered that. Seems a shame not to just get on with the whole job of repairing the wall. Why wait until Spring next year for the LBC application? Indeed, is LBC required for such a repair?

Still, at least you (or your insurance company) won't be footing the bill this time!

 

[Tom]

I guess the wait until Spring is because of the use of Lime?

Jaqy

 

[Pford75]

The delay in rebuilding the wall is due to the risk of frost.

Since the wall will be pointed in lime, and is a fairly exposed site, we are already at risk of frost. If I add in the time to prepare the drawings for LBC and then the processing time at the council, the earliest start would be mid November....which is far too risky. So, we will wait until the Spring to commence work...although I will of course be pursuing the quotes and insurance approval right now.

is LBC required for such a repair?

Hmmm, wondered that myself...since we will be looking for a like-for-like replacement, perhaps not, but my CO was very helpful with the previous wall (which we applied to reduce in height) and i've got no reason not to involve him.

The frustrating thing about the whole claim was that initially the County Council were no accepting liability and were pointing me at the developer who has filled in some drainage ditches. I maintained that my claim was against Highways and that they should counter-claim against the developer....the council have agreed 'without prejudice' and not accepting liability to pay for the works to make the wall safe (in the interests of highway safety) and pursue the developer. This seems like a sensible approach...but could still result in finger-pointing between the two parties.

However, with the battle scars from the tussles last year, I feel 100% confident that I will wear them down in the end :wink: and the wall will be rebuilt in the right way eventually.

Perhaps I should offer myself as an 'agony uncle' in dealing with insurers on period property claims?

 

[Pford75]

View attachment 2

View attachment 1



These sections have either lost the entire facing (as with the central panel), leaving almost an archway above.....which has nasty cracks in it now, or as with the sections to the right and left, the flints are so loose that they can be flicked from the wall with a single finger! We have isolated groups of 5/6 flints having dropped out in sections.

Building Control are also concerned that the removal of the central section of the wall (what's now left of it) will reduce the stability further of the adjoining panels. There are no footings (built off the ground) and there are no butresses or similar. Given that the height is apx 8ft, they are concerned that it could fall into the road or onto the footpath (the road is unlit and this is the only footpath)

 

[shelli]

An update & Some good news today....

Well, last week we received a notice from the District Council Building Control declaring the wall as a 'dangerous structure' and serving notice on us to dismantle the wall within 28 days or they will seek a Magistrate's Court order.

But to cut a long (very long) story short, the County Council (on behalf of highways) have agreed to meet the costs of having the dangerous section dismantled and temporary fencing erected (in advance of a LBC application in the Spring). So the contractors descend this weekend...road closure, and 3 panels to be made safe. Will post some pics soon

a - what a blinking cheek - grates doesn't it
b - what a palaver - why cant they cut through red tape and grant LBC now when the wall actually needs repairing - or is that just far too sensible?

 

[Nemesis]

They can't, obviously, grant LBC until an application has been made for LBC. I recall the local council acting swiftly last time the wall was demolished by a tree.

And until the danger of frost has passed, it would be unwise to rebuild the wall in lime anyhow. As stated above:

The delay in rebuilding the wall is due to the risk of frost.

Since the wall will be pointed in lime, and is a fairly exposed site, we are already at risk of frost. If I add in the time to prepare the drawings for LBC and then the processing time at the council, the earliest start would be mid November....which is far too risky.

 

[Pford75]

Nemesis is correct...the District council have been very supportive (both this time and with the previous tree damage)...in fact my CO helped me lobby the County Council in advance of the collapse to try and get them to resolve the flooding (without success).

The shame in this instance is that 6 months of letters and phone calls to the Highways department failed to get the problem sorted before the wall was damaged....but within 24 hours of me making an insurance claim, they send their loss adjusters out.....stable door/horse springs to mind

 

[Pford75]

The weekend rain certainly that affected much of the country did it's wrost here in Norfolk as well. My pursuit of County Council highways continues as the drains on the road outside my house still remain blocked...despite 6 months of haranguing and one section of wall declared unsafe by Building Control.

Leaving aside the issue of lime & frost...here is one big reason that the wall cannot be reconstructed yet.

 

[Pford75]

Here is another view of the highway which also shows (to the left) part of the section which collapsed and has been replaced with temporary fencing.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

That is serious flooding, what a disgrace.
Maybe a face to face interview in the Council Offices with the most Senior Officer/s concerned ,supported by a file of photographs and correspondance would produce a result.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

As an after thought, 'him indoors' suggests that you approach your local District Councillor and get some support there.

 

[Pford75]

'him indoors' suggests that you approach your local District Councillor and get some support there.

Already have my District Councillor, County Councillor and MP involved....all are in agreement that it's a disgrace....but still hasn't solved the problem :x