Junction remains blocked by rubble from wall collapse

By Emily Winsor

A COLLAPSED wall in Carlton is causing parking problems for neighbours.

The retaining wall, which surrounds a rented property on the corner of Swains Avenue and Carlton Hill, collapsed into Swains Avenue.

Rubble is still strewn across the street and Nottingham City Council has erected a barrier around the debris and closed the junction so the landlord of the property can make the wall safe.

June Jordan, 68, of Carlton Hill, lives opposite the collapsed wall. She was at home when it fell down on Sunday, December 30, at about 3pm.

She said: "I was upstairs and heard a big thud. I looked out the window and saw the wall had collapsed. It was very shocking and I was shaking.

"The fire engines were there very quickly, but if you had been walking under the wall at the time you wouldn't have stood a chance."

She added: "It's annoying – we're struggling for parking. We park outside our house between 4pm and 6pm because Carlton Hill is busy then, so we usually move the car to Swains Avenue. But we can't do that at the minute because of the rubble. It is causing problems for us and other residents with cars."

Another neighbour, Matthew Muller, 64, also heard the wall collapse.

The probation officer, who has lived on Carlton Hill for 25 years, said: "I was upstairs in my house and just heard this noise like when a wagon tips out a load of gravel. I didn't think anything else of it but the next thing I knew there were flashing lights outside and fire engines."

He said the road closure might cause problems with increased traffic when the schools go back today, as cars cannot turn into Swains Avenue.

And a 33-year-old mother-of-one who lives on the opposite corner of Swains Avenue, who didn't want to be named, said: "We were in at the time and heard the bang but didn't go out to look for 40 minutes or so when there were fire engines.

"The property is rented and I think a family lives there. They weren't in at the time, I don't think."

A council spokesperson said: "Swains Avenue has been closed at its junction with Carlton Road and will remain closed for a few days as a precautionary measure so that the owner of the wall can make the wall safe. All residents in Swains Avenue have been notified so that they can use the alternative route into and out of the road."