What can I do about this dangerous wall if the owner doesn’t seem to want to sort it?

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Natural-Feed4769@reddit (OP)

Update: reported it on fixmystreet which wasn’t the easiest as their categories don’t really accommodate for this type of problem. But it’s done.

I’m also going to call the council Monday and I’ll pop round and chat to the owners again.

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hdhxuxufxufufiffif@reddit

Report it to building control at your local council.

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

Agree. They will impress upon the landowner the fines and costs he will face for clearing up otherwise.

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Natural-Feed4769@reddit (OP)

Would honestly rather not get the guy in bother.

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Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

He'll be in a lot more bother if it does fall and kill someone.

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ResplendentBear@reddit

The lower half of the wall looks pretty ok. I know this sub likes to catastrophise, but I think the chances of it actually killing someone are extremely low.

I would still report it to the council.

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

The lower half of the wall looks pretty ok

I would have to disagree. Someone has obviously done a "bodge" job pointing that lower half with a sandy mix, you can see it's washed out under zoom, and there's precious little mortar left between those bricks, I suspect the top was similarly badly pointed at the same time...and now look.

OP has said the wall moves when pushed, and that is underscored by evidence the undergrowth behind is pushing it.

One brick falling could kill a small child, that section collapsing definitely would. And at some point it will collapse.

I don't think it's catastrophising to show alarm that something clearly and genuinely dangerous needs attention.

However, OP has decided they don't want to get the guy in trouble, so it's all moot, anyway ... I too wish he would report it, but, local children will have to take their chance, it seems.

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ResplendentBear@reddit

I think we're on the same page.

I would still say it's catastrophising that it's in any way likely to cause a death. The great storm of 1987 killed 1 human for every approximately 1 million trees it felled. Being crushed isn't a common way to go even when stuff is falling everywhere.

To me it looks like the bend starts to get a lot more pronounced in the top 3rd, but I wouldn't bet my house on that without more photos.

Anyway, as you say, it's all moot if the OP won't involve the council.

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Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

I agree but it seems odd to have it as a genuine concern but not seek out the solution because it might bother the owner. Lot of walls near me are like that. Grouting goes over time.

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SgtBukkakeMan@reddit

They're a local council, not the Gestapo.

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

And if that wall falls on a small child?

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ResplendentBear@reddit

Report it or forget about it. You're not about to start conducting guerilla masonry repair.

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UnacceptableUse@reddit

what _do_ you want to happen?

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Sea_Director_4439@reddit

Have you tried crying about it on the Internet? In all seriousness, maybe if you offered to fix it FOC? If he's an old guy he probably doesnt have the £s to do the right thing.

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Natural-Feed4769@reddit (OP)

I have offered chief.

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Sea_Director_4439@reddit

Foc?

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Sea_Director_4439@reddit

Ah, so you haven't. Fair enough.

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Natural-Feed4769@reddit (OP)

Honestly didn’t get that far. Offered to help - he shut me down so I walked on. I’ve no problem popping back to offer to help again (financially or in labour or both).

Will see if they’re around this weekend.

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Evening-Tomatillo-47@reddit

Yes but have you offered to fix it?

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Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

Talk to the council if really worried - they can have a word with him and they can repair it and charge cost if a genuine risk.

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Natural-Feed4769@reddit (OP)

I’ll do this is and see what stance they take without giving the address and details to them.

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Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

Just need to give the street it is on - council employ quantity surveyers for the roads and for maintenance of own property so they''ll likely send round for a look see. I know in my council every road in the council's area is walked at least once a year,

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ZuckDeBalzac@reddit

That could crush a child nicely. Either pull it on yourself and put a claim in or pull it down one night and run.

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Puzzleheaded-Day4945@reddit

kick it a few times and stand under it

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EverythingIsByDesign@reddit

Unlimited money.

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ChewiesLipstickWilly@reddit

Report to the council

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bladey999@reddit

Accidentally ride into on your bike, fast enough that it falls but slow enough that it doesn't fall on you 😂

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Belle_TainSummer@reddit

Report it to your local council via fixmystreet.com

It is possible that it has been assessed though, and while it looks disturbing, it may still be structurally sound. Seen a lot of walls that look ready to come down in a light breeze, and when a structural engineer has looked at them they've been rated as sound despite looks.

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