Residents angry as wall in Listmas Road, Chatham, which collapsed a year ago has not been repaired
10:00, 23 March 2017
People living in a road in Chatham say they are fed up as nothing has been done to repair a wall which collapsed more than a year ago.
The boundary wall in Listmas Road, at the side of the Magpie Centre, collapsed in January, last year, sending bricks and rubble crashing into the street.
The wall was about 120ft long and 9ft high, and a huge amount of earth and rubble toppled onto the vehicles parked beneath, but luckily no one was injured.
Staff at the Magpie Centre, which is run by the All Saints Community Project Trust in partnership with All Saints Church, initially assessed the damage and were determined to carry on as normal.
The wall was shored up and wood is supporting parts of it. A railing has been put around the area and the pavement for safety.
But, more than a year later, residents say they are getting fed up with the situation as repairs have not even started.
Hayley McAuley, who lives in Listmas Road, said the situation had not changed since the temporary safety measures were put in place.
She said: “We keep inquiring at our PACT meetings what’s happening but we don’t really get a response.
“I know people who have written to the council asking when it will be repaired and they have not received letters back. It seems there is this same argument going on about who actually owns it.
“We’ve had problems in the road because of the area which is fenced off, we can’t park there. Pedestrians can’t walk on that side of the road as it is a bit dangerous, people can’t see to cross properly.”
Chatham central ward councillor and Vince Maple, along with fellow councillors Julie Shaw and Paul Godwin, have written to Medway Council and the Rochester Diocese, to try to get a resolution.
Cllr Maple (Labour) said he has been contacted by a number of residents. He added: “This situation has been in place for well over a year now with no clear sign of resolution.”
A Medway Council spokesman added: “A temporary structure is currently in place while we work with the Diocese of Rochester to arrange for the wall to be rebuilt on Listmas Road.
“Although there are no parking restrictions in East Street, we would remind all motorists to park responsibly and we would encourage residents to contact us to report anyone causing an obstruction.”
A spokesman fro the Diocese of Rochester, who are responsible for All Saints Church, said: "Although, despite extensive research, it remains unclear who is legally responsible for the repairs to the wall.
"To move matters forward the Diocese has instructed civil engineers to produce a specification for the work which we expect will be carried out over the summer months."
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