Homeowner falls through crumbling path eroded by huge waves during Storm Babet – as residents fear their homes could be next

• Rob Allen fell through a crumbling path eroded by huge waves in Storm Babet 
• Residents in the village of Pittenweem, Fife, now fear for their own properties  

A homeowner fell through a crumbling path which had been eroded by huge waves during Storm Babet, as residents in the seaside Fife village fear their homes could be next. 

Rob Allen has lived in his home on Abbey Wall Road in the village Pittenweem for six years and was shocked after he fell into a hole in a wall while walking his dog with his wife, before watching more of the stone be ripped away just hours later. 

‘We came back from walking the dog and we walked along the harbour wall here when it was intact’, he told STV News. 

‘I just looked over the harbour wall and noticed some of the rocks had washed away.

‘My wife walked towards me, and I could hear that it was hollow, so I asked her to step back and as I said that the concrete gave way beneath me and I fell into the hole in the wall.’

Mr Allen, who was not injured in the fall, has been left concerned for his and neighbour’s homes, particularly as winter approaches bringing chances of further stormy weather. 

Rob Allen fell through a crumbling path which had been eroded by huge waves during Storm Babet

Properties have been left at risk after Storm Babet caused high tide swells to rip down two walls and a path

‘My real concern is for this property here, my neighbour’s property’, he said. ‘It feels very uncomfortable with the storm forecast later this week. We’re expecting further damage to this, possibly undermining that property’s foundation.’

Properties have been left at risk after Storm Babet caused high tide swells to rip down two walls and a path. 

Storm Babet touched down in the UK on October 17, before it intensified later in the week, bringing with it a range of yellow, amber and rare red weather warnings across much of eastern Scotland and northern England. 

Up to nine people died in the storm. 

Investigations are now underway to establish who is responsible for the land which has washed away to ensure the necessary repairs are made. 

Garry Nicoll, Service Manager for Building Standards and Public Safety said: ‘The properties affected are privately owned. We continue to closely monitor the situation.

‘If any serious concerns emerge regarding the integrity of any of the buildings or if public safety becomes compromised, we may require the buildings to be evacuated and the wider area further restricted.

Investigations are now underway to establish who is responsible for the land which has washed away to ensure the necessary repairs are made

People in the village have been said to fear for their properties amid further storms predicted this weekend

‘We are engaging with the occupants and all interested parties, encouraging the owners to seek their own independent professional and specialist advice. This includes making contact with their insurance provider so that the necessary steps to best protect their property can be identified and progressed.

‘In the meantime, we have arranged fencing to restrict access and direct people away from the area of the collapsed wall, in the interest of public safety. 

‘We are establishing the ownership of the retaining wall to identify the responsible interests and agree how best to move this situation forward.’

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