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Stonewalled by builder
HOW long should a garden wall last? One hundred years? Certainly 50, barring an earthquake.
After less than six years Alun Thomas's wall is cracking and leaning alarmingly, under pressure from earth in next door's garden - and he's worried it will fall on his kids.
A Rotherham Council official visited his home on Haigh Moor Way, Swallownest, and agreed it was "potentially dangerous."
Mr Thomas tried calling housebuilders Persimmon to account, but the firm was having none of it.
He said: "I cannot understand how it is mine and my neighbour's responsibility to pay 3,500 to get the wall made safe so my children can play without fear of being killed, should the wall collapse."
Persimmon has agreed to pay for a structural engineer's report.
Wayne Gradwell, of Persimmon, said: "The property falls significantly outside the warranty period and, as a result, at this stage, we cannot accept any liability.
"We will liaise with the property owner to resolve this to the full and reasonable satisfaction of all concerned."
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
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