Last updated at 20:53, Thursday, 15 September 2011

A petition has been launched by a group of Flimby residents who fear that a village building may collapse.

COLLAPSE CONCERN: Property owners Gilbert and Mary Campbell and Flimby residents who want Allerdale council to demolish the building that they fear is unsafe

The disused house, on Ryehill Road, is next to the village’s band room.

George Wilson, of West Lane, has launched the petition calling on Allerdale council to demolish the building.

The house owners claimed it was first condemned by the council 16 years ago. But Allerdale council has since said the building was safe and has put responsibility back in the hands of the owners.

Mr Wilson said a huge crack in the chimney had grown since last winter and people feared it would eventually fall on to a public path.

He said: “The path was done up by Allerdale many years ago to provide a safe route to school for children because Ryehill Road is so dangerous, with no pavement on the school side of the road.

“Now the safe path is becoming a danger.”

The house is owned by Gilbert Campbell, 75, and his wife Mary, 73, who bought it 22 years ago.

They said structural problems started within six years and they believed the house would collapse.

Mr Campbell said: “It has been a nightmare. I would lie awake and listen to the house moving and settling.”

Allerdale council re-housed them on School Drive and they claimed that the council also told them 16 years ago that the property would be demolished within three months.

The couple said they were given £5,000 towards their mortgage on the house by the council because the authority had condemned it, and would receive another £5,000 once it was demolished.

Mr Campbell, who worked as a car salesman, said they could not afford to demolish it.

Jill Elliott, Allerdale council’s strategic manager for business, said that a building control manager visually surveyed the building on August 28.

She said: “In his professional opinion he considers it to be safe, despite its appearance.

“The building control team has previously stated that some works to the chimney would improve public confidence, such as to fill in the crack, provide some horizontal metal strapping and remove the pot.

“However, this has not been taken up by the owners.”

Maryport Town Council agreed to contact Allerdale council on the villagers’ behalf.

First published at 19:25, Thursday, 15 September 2011
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk