Laindon residents fear crane at the end of their gardens (From Echo)

Laindon residents fear crane at the end of their gardens

3:00pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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WORRIED residents are determined to stop a 60ft crane operating at the end of their gardens.

The householders, on the Five Links estate, Laindon, fear it could topple on to their homes.

They have been worried for months about plans to bring the crane back to a building site, just yards from their houses.

Swan Housing Association recently sent out leaflets claiming the crane would be safe as it would not carry any building materials over the top of people’s homes. But residents are still not happy.

Moira Brock, 59, of Mellow Purgess, said: “I had a letter from Swan telling me the crane will be completely safe, but I’m writing back telling them exactly what they can do with their assurances.

“I’m taking legal advice to see if it can be stopped.

“That crane is going to be swinging a huge hook over our gardens, whether or not it is carrying building materials, and it frightens me that there are bound to be times when it will be left unsupervised.

“If the crane was to topple over, or the hook used to pick up building materials swung out of control, it would go straight into our properties.”

Jackie Falconer, 63, also of Mellow Purgess, added: “Accidents happen and I’ve read about cases in the past, in other parts of the country, where things have fallen off cranes and killed people.”

This is the latest setback to befall the Five Links project, where 185 new flats and houses were supposed to have been put up, a few yards from existing homes by the end of last year.

Many of them have still not been built.

Paul Hebden, spokesman for Swan Housing, said: “No materials will be craned over homes as part of the works at the landmark site.

“We have received permission from Basildon Council to operate a crane from the site and received positive feedback from the majority of residents affected.

“Safety is of paramount importance.

“Correct procedures are in place to ensure the minimum inconvenience to residents.”