Jade McLellann wails ‘Everything’s minging!’ as she says her children can no longer go out to play in the garden due to the drainage issues and flooding that’s turned it into a mudbath
Jade McLellann and her “hazardous swamp” garden(Image: Newsquest / SWNS)
A mum-of-two from Greenock is battling her housing association after drainage issues turned her dream garden into a “hazardous swamp”.
Jade McLellann first reported problems at her Inverclyde home last year – but says her landlord Larkfield Housing Association has allowed the problem to get worse.
She says her children, one and four, are unable to play outside – and the flooding has even destroyed some of their toys. Jade says the garden looks like a ‘swamp’ and the home is also plastered with mud inside.
Eventually, she says she simply gave up battling the brown sludge after spending countless hours cleaning because she feels like she’s ‘just wasting’ her time. Jade said: “”Before I moved here I was in a flat, so I thought, ‘this is great, my wee boys are going to have a place to play.
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“My oldest was just turning a year, and it was a great garden. But now all his toys are in the bin because they all got ruined. It’s heart-breaking watching the place where my kids should be able to play turn into a swamp because basic repairs haven’t been done.”
Her sons are confined to the house while at home because of the potential health risk Jade feels the garden poses. She said: “My youngest wee boy was in and out of hospital at birth. I’ve always got the fear ‘what if he puts something in his mouth? I don’t know what’s in that’.
She says her children are unable to play outside and the flooding has even destroyed some of their toys(Image: Newsquest / SWNS)
“He’s restricted to the living room, and that’s not fair – in his own home. My kids should have access to my full house, but they don’t, because it’s not safe.”
She said access is also an issue because when it rains flood water can form at the back steps. Jade said: “Obviously my youngest would be in my arms, but I can’t take my four-year-old through that to get out. It wouldn’t be safe at all. I’ve had to constantly paint, and all my flooring needs replaced. Everything’s minging.”
The problem dates back to last May but Jade says that at the time it ‘wasn’t anything crazy’. Nonetheless, she reported it to Larkfield Housing Association, but says she wasn’t seen until October.
Eventually the garden was assessed, and an attempt was made to drain the pipes underneath it using a jet wash – but that flooded the garden so badly that water got into the house.
Jade says the garden looks like a ‘swamp’ and the home is also plastered with mud inside.(Image: Newsquest / SWNS)
Jade added: “They said that the garden needed to be ripped out and replaced because the pipes underneath were broken. I didn’t hear anything from October until January, and someone came out pm January 15. I was under the impression at that point they were coming to replace the garden, because that’s what I was told in October.
“As soon as he stood on the garden, he said that the ground has collapsed and there’s no way to fix it. I’ve then been fighting since January until now to get them to sign off on the works.”
Another jet wash was attempted – but again it made things worse, with Jade describing it as ‘a very silly choice’. She said: “When I wasn’t in, they let themselves in and did it anyway, which then caused my kitchen to be flooded, as well as creating a big puddle on the path.
“The path was completely gone because of how much water there was left. I was told that they would attempt to drain the water when they did the works. I was told that they plan to do it four more times before the repairs are done. And I’m thinking ‘absolutely not, because you’re making it more of a hazard’.”
‘Civil works to take place in early April’
A spokesperson for Larkfield Housing Association said: “We are sorry a quick resolution for this surface water drainage system issue has not been possible. This is a complex repair involving a number of contractors and agencies – including the local authority, who are carrying out their own investigations alongside ours.
“We have been working closely with our tenant to ensure they receive all available support while this repair work is ongoing, and have been taking necessary measures to ensure safe access to their home, such as jet washing steps and pathways to keep them clear.
“Civil works are arranged to take place in early April to repair the damaged pipework, and we will continue to provide all support while we work with our partners to get this resolved as soon as possible.”
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