Landslide

TOTAL TIP. . . the collapsed wall and landslide in Chew Valley Road, Greenfield

A hillside garden at Greenfield completely collapsed yesterday afternoon — wrecking two cars.

The garden dropped around 15 feet at the junction of Shaw Hall Bank Road and Chew Valley Road on the railway bend.

Residents looked out in horror as the landslide landed on a Range Rover and a Vauxhall Astra belonging to the owner of car electrics business Generator Services.

Owner David Stulford said: “I heard a bang at about 1.30pm and looked out and the garden had fallen on my two cars.

“They are insured — but I am not very pleased about what has happened.”

The garden was owned by Andrew Blake (47) whose cottage faces Greenfield railway station.

He said: “I heard a rumble . . . it sounded like a big lorry.

“I looked out and saw that the garden had dropped on top of the two cars.

“The problem lies in the severe rain we have been having. It all started in December, 2007, when there was flooding in most of the Saddleworth villages.

“Water came rushing down the road from Saddleworth Golf Club and down the railway hill. We have been having trouble with water washing down ever since and the garden has been very wet.

“I have told the council several times but nothing has been done.

“I believe Oldham Council should have done something about the flooding problem.”

Landlady of the nearby Railway Inn Paula Duddle said: “I heard a sound like thunder and wondered what had happened.

“Then we saw that the garden had collapsed.”

On Thursday afternoon, Chew Valley Road near its junction with Shaw Hall Bank Road was closed off to traffic.

Building inspectors were carrying out an investigation of the ground conditions.

A spokesman for Oldham Council said: “We are aware that a wall has collapsed in Greenfield.

“Our initial response on arriving at the scene was to fence off the affected area so that public safety was maintained.

“We have been in contact with contractors who will make the remaining exposed embankment safe.

“On initial inspection there has been some damage to cars that were parked alongside the wall, but no residents have been injured and no houses are in danger”