Garden collapses into Mersey after water levels drop

10:22am Thursday 4th October 2012 in News By Matthew Hobbs

The collapsed fence and garden The collapsed fence and garden

A WOOLSTON resident watched on in horror as her garden suddenly collapsed into the River Mersey.

Louise Tuck lives on Weir Lane, immediately next to the river.

After noticing that water levels were unusually low on Friday, she went outside to witness the footpath and riverbank cave in.

“It was really eerie,” said Mrs Tuck.

“I heard the first part of the bank collapse and within 15 minutes it had all completely gone.

“About an hour later I noticed a big crack in my garden and thought ‘oh my god’.”

The 54-year-old said that two elderly men had been walking on that section of the popular footpath minutes earlier.

“I was just in shock because of the old people I’d spoken to,” she said.

“If they had stayed there any longer they would have fallen in.”

By Saturday morning more of her garden had disappeared including part of her lawn, flower beds, 10 fence panels and five concrete posts.

While her house has been confirmed as safe, she has been unable to let her 87-year-old mother, who also lives at the property, see the damage.

The footpath has been closed off by Warrington Borough Council, but it said that Peel Holdings is responsible for the land.

Sub company Peel Ports has admitted lowering water levels on Friday to carry out repair works at Latchford Lock.

Heavy rainfall last week lead to a 40ft tree causing damage to a sluice gate, it said.

Water levels were lowered to allow repairs to be carried out but Peel Ports said it had found ‘no correlation’ between the lowering of water and the collapsed land.

Gary Hodgson, managing director, said: “Peel Ports takes very seriously the concerns of residents and others affected by the issues at Moss Edge.

“To date we have been unable to identify any correlation between the low levels of water in the canal and the erosion at Moss Edge.

“However, we will continue to support further investigation into this matter by local agencies, including local authorities and the Environment Agency.”

Mrs Tuck has been in contact with both the council and Peel Ports but has yet to be told when repair work will begin.

She added: “I just want it to be safe, for whoever is responsible to sort it out.

“At the moment the garden has just been left and the rest could well collapse.”

Comments(11)

Karlar says...
10:59am Thu 4 Oct 12

It's more than likely that with all the heavy rain we've had the lady's garden was sodden or waterlogged. Whilst the water in the river was at its normal level it balanced that from the waterlogged garden. When the river level was lowered the water in her garden had a way out and the collapse was inevitable, without something to retain the soil. Peel Holdings claim there was no "correlation between the low levels of water in the canal and the erosion at Moss Edge" looks at first glance a little iffy.

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Cleopatra says...
11:33am Thu 4 Oct 12

That's exactly how it is Karlar but Peel Holdings are not going to hold their hands up and accept responsibility. They will deny it all through any legal proceedings so that they will not have to pay compensation and repair costs.

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crazey girl says...
11:58am Thu 4 Oct 12

Agree, I am a Horticulturist and that's exactly what i said before i read your comment. it is Peel Holdings that is responsible for this poor woman's garden, if they had not lowered the water levels of the river, the water in the garden would of drained away slowly which would prevent this damage.

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Karlar says...
2:11pm Thu 4 Oct 12

The problem they now face if "“Peel Ports takes very seriously the concerns of residents and others affected by the issues at Moss Edge." is that some form of retaining structure will have to be put in place so that backfilling can be done and before Mrs Tuck gets her garden back. No amount of further investigation (aka putting off the inevitable) with whoever is going to overcome that basic fact.So Peel Holdings should start the remedial action now, because the EA won't be able to solve their (it is NOT Mrs Tuck's) problem.

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martinscroft mike says...
8:48pm Thu 4 Oct 12

please be aware that this riverbank collapse is not just at the bottom of one garden but all along a stretch of some 300 metres.This has lost Warrington residents a right of way along a beautiful stretch of riverbank.In my opinion rain has nothing to do with this incident. The last time an incident like this occured was approx 7years ago when 200 metres of the bank fell in further along the river. Guess what on that day Peel Holdings drained the river.(I have the photos). The water supports the bank and as the water is approx 4 metres deep there no water no support simples!! Peel Holdings should have been able to see this coming. This bank collapse of 4 metres down endangered the lives of anyone walking at this time.

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Cheap Mower says...
10:20pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Shes got herself a free pool

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MikeJT says...
8:41am Fri 5 Oct 12

“To date we have been unable to identify any correlation between the low levels of water in the canal and the erosion at Moss Edge. "

Factually correct.........to identify correlation there has to be a study done followed by a statistical analysis. After spending many years of carrying out such studies/analysis ........sorry Peel, you cant bull###t a bill###tter (there are lies, **** lies and statistics).

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old-codger says...
4:03pm Fri 5 Oct 12

If they dont cough up or repair the damage put in for a council tax re-evaluation because your property is now worth less with only half a garden... Walkers should check the laws on footpaths and right of ways. Somebody has to be responsible.

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toby 2 says...
9:33pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Martinscroft Mike is correct. A lot of damage has been done all the way along the river bank in that area. I know people who were on the path at the time and it just disappeared in front of them and i was down there a couple of hours later and it was just falling away like an avalanche. A lot of people are devastated at losing a beautiful walkway. The diversion is about 2 miles along the main road. Theres even extensive damage been caused to drains that run into the river. I have been told that they may never replace the lost footpath. Non of this would have happened if the water level hadn't dropped because the water holds the banks in place.

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Reader says...
11:21pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Mother nature works in mysterious ways. Look at the Trent and Mersey Canal. Recent rain and too much water have completely trashed part of that. The rules about land adjoining waterways changed in August so the lady might find she's actually responsible for her own garden and no one else is. Her insurance might cover it although it could be classes as general subsidence. Costly eitherway as the premiums will probably rise around there now. Never buy a house near water... simples ;)

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dogwalker2 says...
11:19am Mon 15 Oct 12

Can we have some official comment from the Council please on when the footpath is going to be re-opened?
It is a very well used amenity and it can't just be 'lost', it is part of the Mersey Way footpath.
A builder has applied for Planning Permission to build more houses on the last rural space in Woolston right next to the river bank collapse. Madness! Try selling them or getting insurance on them lol.

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