Commenting on this morning’s collapse of a supporting wall at the former Queen’s Lodge (53 – 55 Queen’s Avenue) which destroyed part of a neighbouring resident’s garden, Liberal Democrat ward Councillor Stephen Gilbert said:

“The developers have been messing the Council around over recent months putting in applications for everything from a hotel to flats, and lastly for a residential care home.

“After representations from my colleague Matt Davies and a site inspection with council officers, the developer and builders were asked to make the site safe – but this clearly did not happen or did not happen quickly enough.

“The Council’s building control and planning departments must now work together to end the uncertainty over this development. I have asked council officers to urgently consider serving a notice to force the developers to get on with building the permissions they have, or to restore the site to its original condition.

“I will also be seeking an urgent meeting with the developer to discuss to damage caused to the neighbouring properties.”