I’m afraid to let my grandkids play outside after the road collapsed near our house

HOMEOWNERS have spoken of their terror after a quiet country lane collapsed – leaving locals too scared to let their children play outside.

A retaining wall along a steep hillside road in the Holme Valley, West Yorkshire, began to ‘sink’ about a year ago due to continued wear and tear, locals claim.

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Damage worsened when vicious Storm Franklin struck in February of this year.

Teacher Andy Pesterfield, 45, shared how he saw rocks and tarmac fly down the 20ft drop as the wall fell in full – taking five trees with it.

With the wall still being repaired, neighbor Pamela Jennings, 56, said she was too scared to let her grandchildren play outside for fear they might topple it.

Pamela told the Sun: “I have two grandchildren and I will not let them go anywhere near the road because of the fall.

“It’s a joke that no work is being done to at least make the road passable again.

“But of course safety is the top priority and it’s just not safe.”

Teacher Andy recounted the moment he saw the road crumbling.

“I just heard a huge bang and rumble and came out of my house to find that five trees had fallen with the wall and much of the road,” he said.

That crumbling road has exposed underground pipelines.

Conservative City Councilman Donald Firth also expressed frustration at the collapse.

He said: “The council have now closed the road for months trying to act as if they have the welfare of the people living here in mind.

“But there are hundreds of people who are being bothered tremendously and have no idea when the road will be safe and usable again.”

Kirklees Council Strategic Director for Environment and Climate Change Colin Parr said: “The collapsed retaining wall at Kirkbridge Lane in New Mill near Holmfirth is council serviceable.

“Currently, an emergency road closure is in effect while ground survey work is carried out to aid in the design of the replacement support structure.

“The motorway will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists and may reopen to vehicles pending the results of the assessment before work begins.

“Currently, diversions are in place.”

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