hermes
Acrobat
from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/silly/story/0,10821,532104,00.html
Holey terror as neighbours accuse mole man
Matt Keating
Saturday August 4, 2001
The Guardian
North London has a mole problem - involving a 5ft 7in mole.
Police, electricity workers and council surveyors were called to a street in Hackney, after an 8ft hole appeared in the pavement.
The chasm, which was cordoned off on Thursday, seems to be the result of the subterranean activities of William Lyttle, 71, who has been burrowing under his 20-room detached home for the past 40 years.
Neighbours yesterday admitted they had been alarmed for years. Retired joiner Eric Bussey, 67, who lives across the road from Mr Lyttle, said: "He has been digging these holes for God knows how long".
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said that the tunneller would dig straight down for over 50ft and stop once he was bored. "He would then fill the hole with concrete, which he claimed would prevent his home from subsiding."
Bernadette Tod, for Hackney council, said that after a complaint in 1997, surveyors completed an x-ray of the pavement immediately outside Mr Lyttle's home to see if his tunnelling had breached the property's boundaries. This is the first time such an incident has occurred.
Neighbour Susan Bunker has lived across the road from the eccentric digger for eight years. "I once asked him what he was doing. He replied 'I'm building a swimming pool as part of a health club for ladies'."
Mrs Bunker added that Mr Lyttle was a quiet man, but could get quite belligerent if he believed a neighbour had complained about his activities.
Many people have already complained that the house is an eyesore. In 1999 a fire destroyed the roof. "Since then the council has spent over ?7,000 making sure that the structural integrity of the building is maintained," said Ms Tod. Mr Lyttle had made no effort to restore his property, she added.
Jeff Bellman, manager of a local estate agents, said if the property was renovated, it would be worth nearly ?1m.
Mr Lyttle was at home yesterday but refused to comment.
------------------
Steve
SAME OLD STORY- Hardcore American Comedy
Holey terror as neighbours accuse mole man
Matt Keating
Saturday August 4, 2001
The Guardian
North London has a mole problem - involving a 5ft 7in mole.
Police, electricity workers and council surveyors were called to a street in Hackney, after an 8ft hole appeared in the pavement.
The chasm, which was cordoned off on Thursday, seems to be the result of the subterranean activities of William Lyttle, 71, who has been burrowing under his 20-room detached home for the past 40 years.
Neighbours yesterday admitted they had been alarmed for years. Retired joiner Eric Bussey, 67, who lives across the road from Mr Lyttle, said: "He has been digging these holes for God knows how long".
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said that the tunneller would dig straight down for over 50ft and stop once he was bored. "He would then fill the hole with concrete, which he claimed would prevent his home from subsiding."
Bernadette Tod, for Hackney council, said that after a complaint in 1997, surveyors completed an x-ray of the pavement immediately outside Mr Lyttle's home to see if his tunnelling had breached the property's boundaries. This is the first time such an incident has occurred.
Neighbour Susan Bunker has lived across the road from the eccentric digger for eight years. "I once asked him what he was doing. He replied 'I'm building a swimming pool as part of a health club for ladies'."
Mrs Bunker added that Mr Lyttle was a quiet man, but could get quite belligerent if he believed a neighbour had complained about his activities.
Many people have already complained that the house is an eyesore. In 1999 a fire destroyed the roof. "Since then the council has spent over ?7,000 making sure that the structural integrity of the building is maintained," said Ms Tod. Mr Lyttle had made no effort to restore his property, she added.
Jeff Bellman, manager of a local estate agents, said if the property was renovated, it would be worth nearly ?1m.
Mr Lyttle was at home yesterday but refused to comment.
------------------
Steve
SAME OLD STORY- Hardcore American Comedy
