A GRANDMOTHER whose garden partially collapsed into building works next to her home is still waiting for the damage to be fixed after eight months.
Denise Davison, 77, lives on Southlea Drive, Hoyland, next to the Milton Crescent project - a development of 14 two and three-bedroom detached and semi-detached bungalows.
On July 28 last year, Mrs Davison woke up to a scene of devastation. The stone wall and fence at the bottom of her back garden had collapsed along with a bank sloping down to the building site.
Now she is afraid to go into her garden because she fears it is unsafe and her grandchildren are not allowed to play out.
She spoke to workers on the building site and was told the contractors had changed because the original company, Niche Construction, had gone into administration.
There is a sign next to the site for the 'considerate construction' scheme with a contact name of Dave Roberts and telephone number.
But when the Chronicle rang the number, a spokeswoman said: "He doesn't work here. This site is nothing to do with this office. When contractors change this is what happens, they just down tools and leave."
The spokeswoman did confirm Niche Construction went into administration in March last year.
Mrs Davison said she and her son Stuart, 45, were now at the limit of their frustration.
She said: "We had a visit from a chap who suggested we could have concrete posts with gravel boards but this is not an equivalent replacement in value or style."
The building work is for a housing scheme for Guinness Northern Counties. Sandra Burke, area programme manager, said the company was in regular communication with homeowners on Southlea Drive and had put up temporary fencing following the land collapse.
She said: "Stabilisation and finishing of the bank are due to complete this month and a contractor is being appointed to recommence works to the road and pathways, which includes the fencing and walls to the north bank on Southlea Drive.
"We are endeavouring to complete all works as soon as possible and will keep neighbours updated."
