Woman 'could have been killed' after Platform wall collapsed

Catherine and Ken Billingham are thousands of pounds out of pocket after a Platform Housing wall collapsed in the couple's garden on Hanbury Terrance in Droitwich.

DESTROYED: The couple's garden after the wall collapsed. (Image: Catherine Billingham) The eight-foot, four-ton retaining wall collapsed in February, and five months later, the couple are at their "wits' end" as they still wait for the £2,500 worth of damage to be fixed.

Mrs Billingham said: "I am a huge gardener. We grow food and anyone who knows me knows I'm always in my garden.

"If the weather hadn't been bad, I would have been outside at the time and could have been killed.

The garden before the wall collapsed. (Image: Catherine Billingham) "I would have died.

"I did not sleep for weeks as it was the most traumatic thing, and to think where it has got to now."

Mrs Billingham had been enjoying her breakfast inside when the "whole house shook".

She said she initially thought it was an earthquake but after looking outside the window, she saw her garden had disappeared. 

The garden furniture was flattened when the wall collapsed. (Image: Catherine Billingham) "I looked out of the kitchen window and it took about five seconds for my eyes and mind to adjust - my garden was gone," she added.

"I didn't know what to do. My whole garden was destroyed, and the wall fell a few feet from my house."

Platform Housing has removed the broken wall from Billingham's garden and used a wooden sheet to hold up the rest of the bank.

But the family said this is still incredibly unsafe and much more needs to be done.

The wooden sheet being used to hold up the rest of the bank. (Image: Catherine Billingham) "It is the most stressful thing, and I could get angry, but I think what is the point?

"It is frustrating how it can be resolved.

"They won't engage, and luckily, we can get legal advice."

Marion Duffy, chief operations officer at Platform Housing Group, said: “We are so sorry to hear of Ms Billingham’s concerns; we are contacting both our customers and Mrs Billingham and will confirm a date when the works can be undertaken directly with them.”