Pensioner, 82, refuses to move out of his clifftop home – despite the fact it is collapsing into the sea
- George Gardiner, 82, lives in a clifftop home at risk of crumbling into the sea
- Mr Gardiner refuses to leave his home in Luccome, Idle of Wight, despite offers
A pensioner is determined to stay put inside his clifftop house – despite the risk of it falling into the sea.
George Gardiner, 82, refuses to budge from his property in Luccombe on the Isle of Wight, where he has resided for 22 years.
A water leak has led to large cracks in the building but the pensioner is unfazed, The Mirror reports.
The house was formerly a tearoom which Mr Gardiner ran with his wife, but its garden and drive has now dropped 5ft.
Southern Water even offered Mr Gardiner alternative accommodation, which he turned down.
George Gardiner, 82, refuses to budge from his property in Luccombe on the Isle of Wight, where he has resided for 22 years
The house was formerly a tearoom which Mr Gardiner ran with his wife, but its garden and drive has now dropped 5ft
Mr Gardner told the BBC: ‘I do wonder what’s going to happen to me in the end, but it’s just one of those things isn’t it?
‘At least this time of the year, everything is drying out a lot. I’m hoping to get a good Summer here at least… but who knows?
‘I’ve got the fence to support me if I need to hang on… I manage. It’ll be alright.’
The water company ewas forced to come out for repairrs last years after the water main burst and new cracks appeared.
A Southern Water spokesman said: ‘We are aware of Mr Gardiner’s case and we received a claim last year in relation to a leak on a communication pipe which has allegedly caused subsidence to the property.
‘This matter is complex and has been referred to our insurers who are currently investigating liability.’