HEYSHAM residents are in dispute with a housing association over the ownership of a boundary wall. The residents of School Road claim that the stone wall at the rear of their houses is potentially dangerous and needs urgent repairs. But North British Housing, who have developed the former church land at the back of School Road, say they will make remedial repairs to the wall but are unwilling to accept any responsibility for it.

Neighbours claim they were always told the wall belonged to the church and are concerned about parts of it falling down.

One resident, Mr Ken Clarkson said: "The local church sold the land to the housing association who have built houses there. We were always told that the stone boundary wall was the responsibility of the church and therefore thought it would be taken over by the housing association but that's not the case.

"They are not accepting any responsibility for it but say they will patch it up as a favour to us. We've got confirmation from the Land Registry that the School Road residents do not own the wall but at the end of the day we're concerned about safety. Parts of it are in a desperate state and we'd like to accept the association's offer of repairs but that might put future responsibility for the wall onto us."

Mr David Shuttleworth of North British Housing refused to accept that any part of the wall might be dangerous.

He said: "The wall is in a less than satisfactory condition but I don't think it is dangerous. We've checked with our legal people who have looked at the documents provided and have concluded that it is not our responsibility. As a goodwill gesture we've offered to make repairs to the wall but we can't accept responsibility for it."

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