A Buckingham woman who blames roadworks on the adjacent A421 bypass for major cracks that have appeared in her garden wall is still waiting for the highways contractor to come to inspect the damage.
Two weeks ago, schoolteacher Janine Elmrabti told the Advertiser of her fears that the retaining wall in her garden, in Hare Close, could now collapse, causing a landslide onto her home.
After highways contractors had removed a large quantity of earth from the bypass embankment a few feet from their boundary, Mrs Elmrabti and her husband Mohammed noticed cracks and a bulge had appeared in the brick retaining wall.
Mother-of-three Mrs Elmrabti told the Advertiser: “We’re petrified the whole thing’s going to give way.”
At the time, a Transport for Bucks spokesman said the site manager for highways contractor Aggregate Industries would visit Mr and Mrs Elmrabti to discuss the matter and agree a way forward.
But by Wednesday morning, Mrs Elmrabti said still nobody from the contractors had contacted her.
Following further emails to Transport for Bucks from Mrs Elmrabti and the Advertiser on Wednesday, Mrs Elmrabti has finally been contacted by Aggregate Industries’ senior contracts manager Jim Burrows. All being well, Mr Burrows will be visiting the Elmrabtis next week to view the wall and discuss whether it could have been caused by their work.
Mr Burrows said if the damage is found to be at all to do with their works, the company will rectify the damage as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, residents of Hare Close have signed a petition protesting over the removal of mature trees from the bypass and the lack of consultation with them beforehand.
The petition, to Bucks County Council cabinet member for transport Janet Blake, also asks what plans are in place to reinstate trees and shrubs on the banking, and what type of acoustic fencing will be installed on the bank to alleviate the extra noise.