Mother fears landslide will engulf her home after builders abandon 35ft pit overlooking her street

By WILL HALLOWELL, NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:36, 15 May 2026 | Updated: 14:59, 15 May 2026 A worried mother fears a huge landslide could engulf her home after builders abandoned a 35ft deep excavation nearby. The 'horror' pit was dug into a steep hillside just ten metres away from Bethanie Bailey's living room and is unstable.  She claims the deep crater was abandoned by builders, is getting bigger and now covers half an acre. The mother-of-one, 35, now fears that if nothing is done the hole, which has already claimed part of a neighbour's garden, will eventually swallow up her home in Carr Street in Ramsbottom, Bury, Greater Manchester. Ms Bailey lives there with her husband Andy Hillel, 40, and their five-month-old daughter. She said that excavation work started on the plot of land between Carr Street and Tanners Street in January last year, before abruptly ending ten months later in October. Planning permission shows how a small multi-level mansion - with five bedrooms and a cinema room - was supposed to be erected on the land. But the firm behind the work - Blakeman Design and Build - paused the job after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) filed a Stop Notice ordering steps to be taken to prevent the slope moving. Pictured: The neglected earthworks that have been abandoned despite the risk they could collapse in Ramsbottom, Bury, Greater Manchester Bethanie Bailey, whose home is located directly beneath the site, fears her family could be crushed in a landslide  When the work started the company had already fallen into liquidation and was dissolved the previous year in March 2024. An elderly neighbour whose house is directly behind the plot also fears the crater could destroy her home as part of her garden has since given way and slipped into the massive hole. The homeowners say 'no real attempts' have been made to clear it up by the council, and they are now 'living in constant fear' of it. Bury Council said it is a 'complex issue' and that it is working hard to ensure a 'resolution' can be reached. It also said the Building Control Service has 'investigated the site' and that they have concluded that there is 'no immediate danger to the public'. Ms Bailey said: 'I worry every night about the worst-case scenario - it collapses and causes major damage. 'Or even worse it has fatal implications for us - I believe it could kill us if it slipped and took the land behind it. It isn't fair that we have to live like this.' Her neighbours, who asked to remain anonymous, said: 'If it is left and it slips our house could go with it. Around ten per cent of our 80ft garden has already fallen into it. Bury Council said it is a 'complex issue' and that it is working hard to ensure a 'resolution' can be reached 'The surrounding houses are unsellable at the moment due to the pit. It has been an extremely stressful time.' Plans for the property were first submitted in September 2021 before they were given the green light in April 2022 with a number of conditions. The council said all 'pre-commencement conditions have been satisfied'. But according to Ms Bailey, works only began in early 2025. She said she first thought it a 'normal development'. However, it was only when she checked her local planning portal that she realised the scale of the project. Plans show how a large area was to be excavated from the side of the hill before the building work could commence on the four-level house fit with a three-car garage and lift. The mother said that between January and October 2025 tractors would come 'several times a day' around 'three or four days a week' removing soil from the plot. She said: 'Huge tractors pulling massive skips would be constantly taking soil from the area, which went on for months. It all seemed safe and exciting and I had no issues with it at all. 'For most of the year I was pregnant and in October when the tractors stopped I was six weeks away from my due date. 'We then had Christmas and New Year, and it was only when 2026 started and we noticed work hadn't continued, that we became worried as something just didn't feel right.' The work stopped after the Health and Safety Executive served a Stop Notice against Blakeman Design and Build in October, which required steps to be taken to prevent movement of the slope during work. The firm is run by David Blakeman, who has since revealed that soon after work began, he also discovered a drain on the land which he claimed was not on the deeds or any planning documents. He said the drain has been used by two other houses to get rid of foul water and is impacting the land - a claim which has been denied by water supplier United Utilities. The work stopped after the Health and Safety Executive served a Stop Notice against Blakeman Design and Build in October He alleged that the HSE won't let him work on the site until it's been made safe but that he can't do so until water leaks from the neighbouring homes are stopped. Mr Blakeman said: 'My hands are tied here. I bought it as a private individual and have spent a lot of money. 'I've reported the issues and gone legal with it. The land is caved in due to water running down and I can't do anything about it. I am in limbo and fed up with it all.' A Health and Safety Executive spokesperson said: 'After receiving several concerns from local residents, our inspectors visited the site in October last year. That inspection resulted in us identifying potential risks to workers. 'We took appropriate enforcement action which meant the dutyholder had to stop the work until they could demonstrate the site was safe. No work has taken place since.' Ms Bailey said that over the past five months, the pit has deteriorated and grown to half an acre in size and 35ft deep. She added that black tarpaulin was placed along the walls of the pit, which she claimed was to help maintain its structure.  But it has fallen apart as it has become 'more and more unstable'. She also said 15 trees, each around 50ft tall, are in danger of falling onto her house as their roots are currently poking out of the hole. The disgruntled mother said: 'The pit has been eroding away, you can see where it has grown from the tarpaulin and the rocks and soil which have fallen on top of it. 'It also sits on a really steep hill. The neighbouring road has a 20 per cent incline warning on it, this is a disaster waiting to happen. 'Then the trees now have their roots sticking out due to the erosion. One big gust of wind from the right direction and one could fall and damage our home or worse.' Last month Ms Bailey said she contacted her local councillor Gareth Staples-Jones, her MP and the council asking for action to make it secure.  Black tarpaulin was placed along the walls of the pit, which Ms Bailey claimed was to help maintain its structure Pictured: Ramsbottom councillor Gareth Staples-Jones next to the excavation  Mr Staples-Jones has since become actively involved with the issue and is currently working to have it cleared up. He said: 'I've been raising concerns about this site consistently since September 2025, particularly around land stability, drainage issues, and the potential risk to nearby homes and the public highway. 'While enforcement action is in place from the Health and Safety Executive and other agencies are involved, progress has been slower than residents would expect, and that uncertainty is understandably causing anxiety. 'Until this is fully resolved, my focus remains on ensuring all parties work together to deliver a safe outcome for those affected.' Ms Bailey said the council have been no help at all, leading her to start a petition calling for action from officials. It currently has over 800 signatures and demands that the local authorities stabilise the bank and recover the costs from the developer. Ms Bailey said: 'I'm mainly disappointed as I feel that everyone we have tried to talk to has pushed us aside or pushed our issue onto someone else. 'No one has been taking action to support us. To me, it almost feels like they are waiting for something catastrophic to happen before they will decide to step in. 'If the HSE say it is unsafe for workers, does this not mean it is unsafe for the public as well? Surely there are some emergency powers they could use.' A spokesperson for Bury Council said: 'This is a complex issue which involves the landowner, the HSE, United Utilities and the residents, and we are doing all we can to help those parties reach a resolution on a wide range of matters.' The council also said that the Building Control Service is aware that the 'developer has excavated part of the grounds that were providing stability to land and properties nearby'. However, it said 'there is no evidence that these buildings have been damaged or at any immediate risk of being damaged'. Officials added that they are aware of the HSE's Stop Notice and continue to work with the developer to advise the site to be developed in a 'safe manner'. Bury Council said it is aware of the private legal dispute over the alleged 'severed sewer pipe' and that its Drainage Service also 'continues to investigate and advise on the site'. United Utilities has conducted tests and confirmed it is 'clean, untreated water' but it isn't coming from its 'clean or wastewater network'. The company also said it will 'continue to support the ongoing investigations' being carried out. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. 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