Sinkhole leaves Penycae couple seeking answers

Some three months ago, Derek Davies was out mowing the lawn in his back garden at his home on Maelor Avenue in Penycae.

It was then, he says, he felt something unusual on the ground.

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Derek said: "I was able to actually pull the turf back and that revealed what looked like a sinkhole.

"After some heavy rain, it's now around five metres deep and we've been told it might even be linked to an old mine shaft.

"It's completely taken over our garden to the point where we're now forced to just sit out on our decking area and go no further than that."

Derek, who lives with partner Jill Blakeley and foster son Thomas, says Wrexham Council workers have been round to the house to take a look at the sinkhole but so far the issue has not been resolved.

PIC: How Derek Davies' garden in Penycae currently looks.

He says his garden has now been 'mostly fenced off' in order to keep him, Jill and Thomas, who is 2 years old, safe.

Derek added: "Spending time in the garden was something I enjoyed before all of this happened. I retired a few years ago after suffering a stroke and so it was where I liked to spend my time.

"I used to have a very well-kept garden with a fish pond, but now it's a real mess. Thomas can't go out there as it's obviously too dangerous for him - we just want answers.

"To have my 'lifeline' quite literally taken from under me has been difficult."

A Wrexham Council spokesperson said that their housing officers have visited Mr Davies' property on more than one occasion and that a consultant's report on the sinkhole is due 'shortly'.

PIC: Another picture from Derek Davies' back garden.

The spokesperson said: "Housing officers arranged for a contractor to attend the property on March 1, following concerns raised by the tenant about a sink hole appearing on the completion of water mains works. 

"The contractor investigated and found that it was not related to this work but could possibly have been caused by historical mine shafts. Officers attended the property on March 7, following a report that the sinkhole had grown following heavy rain. 

"This was made safe and perimeter fencing was erected to prevent unauthorised access.  The tenant was again visited on March 14 and it was explained that a specialist consultant had been commissioned to investigate the cause. 

"Further visits have been carried out to reassure the tenant that the sink hole had not worsened. The consultant’s final report is due shortly.”