THE FOREVER LEAKING Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal prevents a couple selling their 20 rooms mansion.
Its value has fallen by nearly £500,000 but still they cannot sell, Kieth Gudgin reports.
Charles and Patricia Lester have lived at Llanfoist House beside the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal since 1973, but their home is below a 70ft bank that holds the Mon & Brec Canal that leaks continuously.
Not only does it leak water but the couple tell they have suffered multiple mud slides caused by the leaking water and one nearly caused their deaths when the canal breached with tons of debris and water cascading down.
No record of leaks or collapses
Of the problem, Charles relates:
"Not that we were aware of the significance of any of this at the time we bought the property, especially as the canal had no record of leaks or collapses in its previous history. But we very quickly realised there was a constant flow of water from the canal bank.
"Our unlined pond was kept full all through the driest periods with leaks from the canal. At the time we had no idea or warning of the potential danger as would be required these days to be in the estate agent's details.
"The more recent legislation about declaring such things as subsidence or flood potential has made it impossible for us to sell this large house enabling us to move to a more manageable and comfortable property in our old age."
Owing to the problems the value of their property has diminished from £1.2m to £750,000. But they are unable to sell as would-be buyers would realise the danger they would potentially face with the leakage and more possible breaches of the canal bank.
Great jets from the bank
Of the breach, Charles relates that he came home to see great jets coming from the bottom of the bank with 20,000 tonnes of water coming straight at us, then came the mud that engulfed the property. (The picture shows the breach.)
A slurry of mud from the canal completely wiped out the trees on the bank beside their home in 1975, he telling:
"You don't run when something like that comes towards you. You can't. You just pray. Luckily our lives were saved because the trees came roots-first and hit the stone wall and created a sort of dam which diverted the water and the rocks, boulders and debris sideways."
It is believed that the canal was dredged deeper when it was restored, removing the puddle clay that had stopped the leaking. But now there are continuous leaks along the whole waterway. And even sensors monitoring the banks that are so porous.