Furious locals say their gardens and driveways are collapsing after building work started on a new estate.<br /><br />Dozens of residents in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts., were shocked when cracks appeared in their driveways.<br /><br />Large chunks of people’s gardens in George Street also sank by up to 3ft amid fears of a major landslip.<br /><br />The damage is believed to have been caused by powerful vibrations coming from diggers doing groundworks on a new housing development nearby.<br /><br />Construction has been temporarily halted as investigations are carried out into the building work which developers blame on “heavy rain”.<br /><br />Resident Susan Tighe, 81, says a large area of her lawn and driveway has sunk into the ground.<br /><br />She said: “It was about two months ago it started, they’re just doing the groundwork at the moment. <br /><br />“You can’t see anything and you can’t go on the site. We’re high up and the fields lower down. We think they’ve taken some of the soil away. <br /><br />“We think it’s the vibration of the machinery that’s caused the problems. <br /><br />“The vibration of the machinery has shaken the earth around the garden. <br /><br />“I could just see a crack in the ground. It wouldn’t stop.<br /><br />“It’s a civil engineering job. If they don’t do anything about it, it’ll fall in the field.” <br /><br />Linda Jackson, 74, who lives on the street with her husband Richard, 76, said: “Our concern is because they’ve dug away the bank and left a 15ft drop from <br />our garden, we’re concerned that the same thing will happen to us and our lawn will fall away. <br /><br />“Apparently they’re going to build a retaining wall but no one has been here to communicate that with us. We just pick bits up here and there. <br /><br />“Our garden could slip away. It’s a significant drop. When I walked down there I couldn't believe it. <br /><br />“We were overlooking the field but now we’re overlooking a building site. <br /><br />“We don't have a right to a view, but we have a right to know what’s going on. <br /><br />“What I would particularly like is some assurance as to what’s happening. <br /><br />“We’ve been living here since they were built 50 years ago and nothing like this has ever happened before.<br /><br />“Most of the people around here are retired. We’ve had our garden landscaped, so if it disappeared into the field it would be very upsetting. <br /><br />“We’ve had a lot of rain but that hasn’t caused the issue before. <br /><br />“The noise and the dust is incredible. <br /><br />“I can’t put white sheets outside because the air is full of dust. It’s just ‘bang bang’ all the time.” <br /><br />People living in nearby Norwood Close have also reported damage to their homes. <br /><br />John Whitehead, 70, said: "We’re really concerned because they have dug 20 feet <br />down at the bottom of our garden and we are extremely worried it might happen to us next.<br /><br />"The builders were digging last week and my wall clock was vibrating, so I'm worried it might have damaged my house.”
