Parton landslip: Evacuees allowed to return home

The hill where the suspected slip occurred is directly behind the local school and some houses

People whose properties were evacuated last week because of a suspected landslide are being allowed to return to their homes.

Concerns were raised on 28 July over cracks on a hillside above Main Street in Parton, Cumbria, although inspectors believe the slip was not recent.

Cumbria County Council said the cordon area would be reduced and "the majority" of residents could return.

Two of the 14 homes evacuated and the village school remain out of bounds.

A council spokesman said those buildings would remain inside a cordon "for several weeks as a minimum".

Engineers have been surveying the hillside and confirmed there had "been some slippage to the bank but it's not clear when this occurred", the spokesman said.

"There is no evidence to show a recent landslip - engineers believe the cracking that was reported to be a landslip is the dying off of some vegetation as a result of the recent dry weather.

"The noise that was reported to have been a landslip cannot be accounted for from the evidence gained through site surveys and would appear to have been from another source."

Further tests will be carried out and the advice remains there is a risk in the "immediate vicinity of the bank" which affects St Bridget's Primary School, the playground and the two neighbouring homes.

Cracks on the hillside are the result of recent dry weather, engineers have concluded

The council said it was looking for a site where it could relocate the school in time for the end of the summer holidays in September.

"A preferred location is expected to be confirmed by the end of the week and would be built using temporary classroom buildings," the spokesman said.

"The county council and multi-agency partners would like to thank the affected residents and wider community in Parton for their patience and cooperation," he added.

Andrew Barton, who lives in one of the two houses that must remain vacant, said he, his wife and two children will have to stay in a caravan with two dogs, two cats and a puppy for the foreseeable future.

"It's difficult," he told BBC Radio Cumbria.

Andrew Barton said he would remain out of his home for some time

He said the financial cost had been "massive" with loss of earnings from his Prosecco van coupled with the costs of running the caravan "crippling".

Mr Barton said he would have to just wait for the council to give the go-ahead for him to return.

"It has been stressful and the kids have been upset," he said.

"But you've just got to deal with it the best way you can."

Alexandra Martin, who lives across the road from the evacuated houses, said the past week had been "lonely, worrying and uncertain".

She said it was "absolutely brilliant" people could return home after a "very stressful week".