A COUPLE who built their own riverside home could be forced to pay out thousands of pounds to repair a “dangerous” wall, so that a village road closed 18 months ago can finally be reopened.

A judge has ordered David and Karen Murphy of The Brackens, Symonds Yat West, to repair the wall, which was cracked along with the road by a landslip, to standards set by Herefordshire Council.

Villagers in the picturesque Wyeside village have been unable to use the single-track C1257 lane leading to some 40 properties, including around 12 holiday lets, since June 2018.

The only alternative access for residents and visitors alike is via the 900m-long Ferrie Lane byway beside The Old Ferrie Inn, which is very narrow (maximum vehicle width 6.2ft), unlit at night with steep drops to the River Wye, and floods when the river is high.

But 18 months on, the C1257 remains closed, with the council claiming its contractors cannot safely repair it until the retaining wall at the house is fixed.

They served a notice on the Murphys who then appealed, only for the judge to rule in favour of the council at Hereford Magistrates’ Court just before Christmas.

District Judge Ian Strongman said he was satisfied ground levels raised in front of the house without planning permission during the redevelopment of the property were “a significant cause of the subsequent land instability.”

Symonds Yat West Action Group spokesman John Blows, who is affected by the road closure, said: “We’ve been campaigning to get the lane reopened for 18 months, but I have immense sympathy for the homeowners over this ruling.

“As a builder, he actually offered to repair the wall to begin with, only for the council to make certain demands about how the work was done.

“I don’t think there is evidence that the work he did building the new house really affected the wall or that it’s unsafe, and now he could be faced with a huge bill. Frankly I’m shocked and astounded by the judge’s ruling that he should be liable for it.

“But that’s the decision – the owner has got to repair the wall to the council’s satisfaction, so who knows what will happen now or when the road will be repaired.

“The whole road closure has had a huge affect on the owners of the 40 or so properties, including the holiday let owners who have lost trade.

“We are incredibly fed up with it being closed.”

Mr Blows said excess groundwater under the road had caused the landslip, where there had been water main bursts previously as well.

Welsh Water has denied any liability for the slip, which he labelled ‘preposterous’, despite the judge ruling in their favour.

The wall in front of the house was deemed ‘dangerous’ by Here- fordshire Council highway’s team after the landslip and needed to be repaired before any works on the road, they said.

County councillor John Harrington, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport, said: “We are sensitive to the impact this closure continues to have on the local community and we fully understand that feelings of frustration have grown during this lengthy process.

“We would like to thank local residents and businesses for their continued patience.

“We have endeavoured at all times to treat all with respect and consideration, and we regret that legal action became necessary.

“Our priority remains the same as it was 18 months ago: to ensure the road can safely be reopened at the earliest opportunity.

“We will continue to work with the owners of the wall to make sure that this happens, and we will notify residents once further details are available.”

A council spokesperson said after the court verdict on Wednesday, December 18: “Throughout, the council and its highway partner, Balfour Beatty Living Places, have acknowledged their own responsibilities for the works needed to repair the damaged road and we have put plans in place to do so.

“This verdict confirms that the resp- onsibility for the condition of the privately-owned wall sits with the owners and the notice served by the council in April 2019 seeking its repair was valid.

“Works must be carried out to both the wall and road before the road can safely be reopened.

“The council took action under section 167 of the Highways Act to secure the repairs of the wall and enable it to act to do so in the event that those responsible did not,” they added.

“The notice was appealed, and the matter has been going through due legal process for several months.

“A judge today concluded that the notice was valid and properly serviced.

“Having taken advice, we must now allow reasonable time for action to take place in accordance with our 167 notice.”