A Dundee landslide that forced the evacuation of 50 residents was just six feet away from being a disaster, the man leading the emergency repairs has told The Courier.
No one was hurt when heavy rain caused tonnes of earth to crash down from Gardner Street into the back of Lochee Road properties on Monday afternoon but it could have been a lot worse.
If the boundary wall had been closer to the edge, it could have taken the Gardner Street tenements 2, 4 and 6 with it, according David Hovell, project manager for contractors Dundee Plant Ltd, which was called in by the city council.
He said: “If that wall had been another six feet down the hill, it would have wiped out the houses as well.”
Mr Hovell said his team had cleared away around 1,500 tonnes of earth and debris on Thursday and they are also working to repair the main sewer which came down and runs underneath the houses.Photo gallery:Contractors on scene after Dundee landslideWorkers were called out on Tuesday and have been working every hour of daylight available to secure the bank and make the homes safe for residents to return to.
Mr Hovell said they hope most residents in Gardner Street properties 2 and 4 will be able to return by the end of this week.
Those living in number 6, however, which is closest to the edge of the landslip, may not be safe to return for months.
He said: “The foundations are looking ok and we are trying to clear away the earth to make it safe again. We still need to stabilise the bank and might have to put in some membrane but we haven’t decided that yet.
“We have been working from 8am until 4pm when it starts to get dark and it is too dangerous to continue working.Photo gallery:Landslide behind flats in Dundee“We are just working to make the area safe again then we will hand over the council.”
At the bottom of the slide, a private security firm has locked down Lochee Road properties 175 and 177 to keep people out of the dangerous buildings and residents are only being allowed brief access to collect a few essentials.
Those living in 179 Lochee Road have already been allowed to return.
A council spokesman said: “Work is still going on to ensure that the situation is safe for residents to return.”