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'Our street is collapsing into the river bank'

JOHN DEVINE/BBC Neville Patrick looks directly at the camera wearing black glasses and a chequered shirt. He is photographed outside with residential houses behind him and a pathway with two cars parked on the right hand side. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Neville Patrick, 82, lost his house to subsidence in 1993 and said not enough is being done about the ongoing issues

People living on a riverside road have said more action needs to be taken to prevent the road and pathway outside their homes from slipping into a riverbank.

Residents of Nene Parade in March, Cambridgeshire, have had issues with subsidence for many years and they said the roadway and path continued to erode.

A residents' association spokesperson said the group was collating evidence to bring legal action against local authorities in order to resolve the situation.

Cambridgeshire County Council said it had undertaken regular inspections and repairs on the road and was working with partners to "identify the best long-term solution for this area".

JOHN DEVINE/BBC Red plastic safety fencing and silver fencing leaning against green shrubbery at the edge of the pathway. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Residents say they thought unsightly safety fencing was only a temporary measure, but estimate it has been in place for five years

"I have lived here for 65 years," said Neville Patrick, 82.

"My house had to be rebuilt in 1993 after subsidence took it. Our pathway is collapsing into the river bank - look at all the temporary safety fences, they have been here for four or five years.

"The council came last month to inspect it, but nothing has changed."

JOHN DEVINE/BBC Bill Hill looks to the right of the camera as he stands on the pathway. Behind him is red safety fencing and silver fencing on its side leaning against green shrubbery. He is wearing a burgundy jumper and chequered shirt. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Bill Hill, 88, said the roadway and path need piling to make them safe and secure

Bill Hill, 88, who lives on Nene Parade, said: "It is happening all over Fenland, there are layers of peat bog under here and it is drying out and shrinking and taking the top surface with it and because we're next to the river it seems [to be] worse here.

"The road and path really need piling - pile foundations are deep foundations. They are made with long, slender, columns usually made from steel or reinforced concrete.

"In some places the path and road were three meters wide, you used to be able to turn your car on it, but now it's only a metre wide. You can see the cracks and tarmac breaking off."

JOHN DEVINE/BBC Rita Phillips looks unhappy as she gazes directly at the camera. She is photographed outside a white house, wearing a pink blouse and glasses. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Rita Phillips, 78, says her dream house has turned into a nightmare

"When we moved here five years ago we thought it was our dream house, but it's now a bit of a nightmare," said 78-year-old Rita Phillips.

"Last week a young child came off their bike when their front wheel went down a large crack near our entrance.

"We have been fighting as a residents' association for about a year now, and we don't seem to be making much ground."

JOHN DEVINE/BBC Lee Lambert smiles and looks directly at the camera, he is photographed in a car park and wearing a blue top and black glasses. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Lee Lambert says he and other residents are compiling evidence to take legal action over the issues

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council said: “We are aware of the damage to the road and riverbank on Nene Parade. We are undertaking regular inspections and temporary repairs. The latest repairs were made in July.

“We are working with partners as we seek to identify the best long-term solution for this area.”

Colin Ovenden A close up of broken tarmac on the pathway. It is blocked off by red safety fencing and silver fencing. Colin Ovenden
Residents say the road has been breaking up for years, as this image from 2021 shows

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