Households to pick up £85,000 wall bill

Work to reinstate a wall which collapsed almost three years ago has been approved by Oldham Council.

But the long-running legal battle behind it is still going on.

Householders in Newport Street, Coppice, adjacent to the retaining wall which collapsed into Selden Street in January 2006, say it is not their responsibility.

Selden Street has been blocked ever since the collapse.

The council says that despite six court hearings, the case has not been resolved — so it will go ahead and repair the wall and charge the householders for it.

Now the council has let the £85,000 contract to Greenbooth Construction of Chadderton and is doing the work in default.

A report from environmental services officers says that the costs will be charged against the owners of homes in Newport Street.

The authority will recover the money by civil action or by putting a legal charge against the houses.

One householder, Oldham accountant Arshad Mahmood, has vowed for two years not to pay, and says he welcomes the chance to have his day in court.