Update - 18/8/2017
Over the last week the council’s housing team has been working with each affected family to help them relocate.
Eight out of the ten properties affected have now been vacated. The families have been offered and accepted alternative accommodation and have either already moved or are in the process of moving. No family will be left in B&B or other emergency accommodation.
One property on the terrace is in a ruinous state and is unoccupied – the council has today served a demolition order on this property.
Two notices were served on one property in March and April 2017. These have recently been superseded by a single notice which was served on the 15th August 2017. The tenant of that property has appealed and the appeal is due to be heard on the 20th September 2017.
This is not a one-off event but records of landslips in that area date back to 1897 with the hillside above the area of Pantteg and Godre'rgraig referred to locally as the ‘moving mountain’.
Large parts of Godre'rgraig village itself is mostly abandoned with many homes demolished due to landslip events in the late fifties and early sixties.
If there was a simple solution to dealing with landslips it would have been found long ago.
However, the two most recent landslips directly affected residents’ properties which is the reason why the council has asked residents to relocate. The council’s responsibilities are clearly set out in the Housing Act; we have a duty to protect residents against the risk of imminent harm.
It is important to note that the landslip area is largely in private ownership, but the council’s main priority throughout has been and continues to be the safety and wellbeing of the affected residents.
As work to monitor the site is ongoing we are looking to keep the local community up to date with the latest developments via our website and through direct communication with the affected residents.
We have been planning a public meeting with members of the local community to give them the latest information and residents will receive letters shortly.
We are contactable for further information via our dedicated phone number (01639) 686288 or pantteg@npt.gov.uk