A frustrated homeowner has slammed Bristol City Council’s (BCC) Bridges and Highway Structures department for "neglect" after a retaining wall connecting to his property collapsed last year.
Tony Curtis, 61, said he was made aware in 2013 that the council was monitoring a failing retaining wall which supported his back garden and the adjacent highway on Thatchers Close. Due to the wall's fragility, a public footpath which runs behind Mr Curtis’ property off the Kingsway in St George was closed off.
Mr Curtis said for several years he has been in dispute with the council about when structural repairs would begin. However, it was not until January this year that the wall finally collapsed - spilling onto the public path below. Not only did it destroy part of his back garden but it caused considerable damage to neighbours close by. He told Bristol Live that BCC has “neglected” the issue for years and must take “responsibility” for allowing it to reach this stage.
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This comes after claims he and the council had a verbal agreement that BCC would repair the “adopted wall” and once it was completed he would construct the remaining part to the rear of his property. But it has been several months and only fencing has been erected with no visible signs that the council will start repairs.
Mr Curtis said he has been “reluctant to incur any cost to the repair of the wall” as he “does not believe” it’s his responsibility. However, he would be “willing to accept a third of the cost” but requires the council to begin construction first.
He said the issue has been “very stressful” and he is worried about his family’s safety and security. “There has been a lack of any progress, any understanding of the situation that has been caused by Bristol City Council. It’s been neglectful - they allowed the wall to collapse,” he added.
Mr Curtis received an email on Monday, October 17 from Council’s Bridges and Highway Structures department saying Thatcher’s Close would be its “next main Priority Project” later this year or early 2023 “subject to weather conditions”.
He said the reason the council gave for the delay is down to the "lack of resources". However, he feels that he has been “left in limbo for the last 6 months” and still has no guarantee that work will definitely take place or be rectified any time soon.
He told Bristol Live that he's keen for the council to acknowledge the "seriousness" of the issue and the impact it has had on people in the living area over the last “12 months”.
Bristol Live has approached Bristol City Council for comments.
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