Why are Ross and Jill Darbyshire afraid for their home?

Ross and Jill Darbyshire are afraid their home could be crushed by a hillside collapse due to cracks appearing in the bedrock behind their cottage.

What might have caused the cracks in the bedrock?

The couple believes a small earthquake that occurred in Gwynedd on the night of January 28 may have caused the cracks in the bedrock.

Can the local council help the couple with the hillside issue?

No, the couple has been advised that the council cannot help as the problem is on their own private land.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Couple fears home collapse after hillside cracks

Couple fears home collapse after hillside cracks

11 Feb

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Summary

Couple heard noise and found cracks in bedrock behind home.
Small earthquake in Gwynedd may have triggered rockslide.
Hundreds of tonnes of rock could fall, couple fears.

Couple fears home collapse after hillside cracks

A couple in Rhewl, Denbighshire, are living in constant fear for their safety, concerned that the hillside behind their cottage could collapse onto their home. This anxiety began on January 28, when Ross and Jill Darbyshire heard a significant noise originating from the rear of their property.

Following the sound, they discovered alarming cracks had appeared in the sheer slate bedrock. The Darbyshires believe that a minor earthquake that occurred earlier that night in Gwynedd may have been the cause of the instability.

Ross, aged 75, expressed grave concern, stating, "It's not a question of if it comes down - it's coming down." The couple are terrified that hundreds of tonnes of rock could dislodge and fall onto their cottage at any moment.