Where it all began

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Sink Hole Scar

The blue spots indicate the position of the sewer

It has been over 7 years since we first made a claim for subsidence as the house began to move after a 4 meter deep sink hole appeared at the side of our house near the living room. To date the house has moved 9 cm out of plumb. We have been prepared to move out while the work takes place for at least 3 years. Every Spring, every Christmas we have been disappointed that the insurance company have not given the go ahead. We are now in the position that the house needs to be demolished and rebuilt. 

The insurance are looking at different solutions, cheaper solutions. In the meantime we are living with cracks and movement. We cannot decorate or buy new furniture, we are in limbo. 

A couple of months ago, we were told they were going to dig up our dining room. Nobody turned up. We moved furniture and dreaded the mess. We put the furniture back. They are not coming until after the New Year and they will dig outside. Perhaps they think we will die during the Pandemic and they won't have to pay out.

We live in an end terrace house in leafy South Liverpool, over the years the older neighbours have moved out or passed away and landlords snapped up the houses. 

The area changed from homes with a range of ages from the elderly and children playing in the streets to multi-occupation student lets with perhaps 4 or 5 cars to one house. 

We tried for a long time to get in touch with the landlord of one of houses on Greenbank Road as there was a steady stream of water flowing from under his back gate. He lives in Ireland, I seem to recall he is a GP. We told the council. Nobody took any notice of us. The water flowing from a broken pipe washed away our foundations.

Then the sink hole appeared. Followed by a rat in the shed.

Between United Utilities and Liverpool city council, a couple of large machines appeared and shook the house as they worked. Then a lorry appeared, back-filled the sink hole with rubbish, and placed a layer of tarmac on the top. 

This is our diary from where it all began to wherever this journey takes us. 



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