The engineer that council commissioned to investigate subsidence on a badly affected section in Wimbledon Close is the director of the company that undertook the original soil testing in the Thornton Estate subdivision.
The subdivision borders a swampy reserve, with several properties in the area affected by subsidence of varying degrees.
Mark Mitchell is the director of Geocon Soil Testing Ltd, the company which undertook soil investigations for the several sections in Wimbledon Close ahead of the residential development in 2006.
Mr Mitchell was commissioned earlier this year to provide a geotechnical assessment for site remediation of ground settlement for what is believed to be the worst affected property in the area.
The house, like others nearby, sits on deeply driven piles to ensure its stability in the soft peat soil. However, the underground services are being compromised as they get dragged down with the sinking soil. There are regular electricity outages which means the owners are regularly without power, and their pump-operated sewerage system can't be used until power is restored. Gas mains regularly trip, which shuts down their gas-powered hot water. The piles are exposed as the soil sinks beneath them.