A court order is a difficult-to-beat excuse for not finishing off those odds and ends you've been meaning to do for a while...
'Mole man's' £300,000 repair bill
A pensioner who created a labyrinth of tunnels under his house over 40 years has been forced to pay £300,000 for repairs carried out by a council.
Excavations by William Lyttle, 77, who is also known as the "mole man", almost caused the property in Mortimer Road, Hackney, east London, to collapse.
Hackney council evicted him in 2006 to allow work to stabilise the house.
The High Court ordered him to pay the amount within 14 days or the property could be sold to pay the bill.
It is understood Mr Lyttle inherited the 20-room four-storey detached property from his parents.
The house, which is dilapidated, could be worth more than £1m if renovated.
Public danger
On Monday the High Court also extended an order which bans Mr Lyttle from going near the property to ensure he does not damage the restoration work.
Since he was evicted he has been living in temporary council accommodation.
In 2001, his digging led to a 15ft-wide hole in the public footpath.
Fiona Fletcher-Smith, of Hackney Council, said: "Mr Lyttle's actions had led to his home becoming a danger to himself and to the general public.
William Lyttle's house William Lyttle has been banned from going near the house
"Making the property safe is a matter which has incurred considerable expense to the Hackney taxpayer over a number of years, and we are extremely pleased that the court has agreed we should be able to recoup the cost."
Following the order, neighbour Dean Dawson said: "The council has been pussy-footing around him for years.
"They would just check that any work he did had the right planning permission. There has been a distinct lack of action.
"I've got every sympathy with him (Mr Lyttle). He's just a bit eccentric and a bit of a recluse.
"But it does grate on residents when they're told to take down satellite dishes and you just look across the road at all that he's got away with."
Rod <polygo...@ntlworld.com> wrote: > A court order is a difficult-to-beat excuse for not finishing off those > odds and ends you've been meaning to do for a while...
> 'Mole man's' £300,000 repair bill
> A pensioner who created a labyrinth of tunnels under his house over 40 > years has been forced to pay £300,000 for repairs carried out by a council.
I've often considered tunnelling. There's a mountain nearby, and if I could just get a tunnel there, just think of the rooms I could create. Just like the dwarves in Lord of the Rings. Still there is the problem of awakening the Orcs at the Town Hall.
Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and RCD?
> On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:29:30 +0100 > Rod <polygo...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>> A court order is a difficult-to-beat excuse for not finishing >> off those odds and ends you've been meaning to do for a while...
>> 'Mole man's' £300,000 repair bill
>> A pensioner who created a labyrinth of tunnels under his house >> over 40 years has been forced to pay £300,000 for repairs >> carried out by a council.
> I've often considered tunnelling. There's a mountain nearby, and > if I could just get a tunnel there, just think of the rooms I > could create. Just like the dwarves in Lord of the Rings. Still > there is the problem of awakening the Orcs at the Town Hall.
> Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the > Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and > RCD?
TheOldFellow wrote: > On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:29:30 +0100 > Rod <polygo...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>> A court order is a difficult-to-beat excuse for not finishing off those >> odds and ends you've been meaning to do for a while...
>> 'Mole man's' £300,000 repair bill
>> A pensioner who created a labyrinth of tunnels under his house over 40 >> years has been forced to pay £300,000 for repairs carried out by a council.
> I've often considered tunnelling. There's a mountain nearby, and if I > could just get a tunnel there, just think of the rooms I could create. > Just like the dwarves in Lord of the Rings. Still there is the problem > of awakening the Orcs at the Town Hall.
> Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the > Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and RCD?
Perhaps you have a birthday coming up?
Hardrock Tunnel Boring Machines by B. Maidl, Leonhard Schmid, Willy Ritz, Martin Herrenknecht, David Sturge
> "I've got every sympathy with him (Mr Lyttle). He's just a bit eccentric > and a bit of a recluse.
it could be the way of the future, we live underground away from the fumes and UV and grow genetically modified food on the surface, spending our time talking to like minded people via glowing screens, that last bits a bit far fetched, sorry. -- "Mike....."(not "Mike") remove clothing to email
> Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the > Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and RCD?
One of the ones used for the Chunnel itself used to be next to the visitor centre with a 'For Sale' sign on it - price £1. However, it was a buyer collects sale.
> "TheOldFellow" <theoldfel...@gmail.com> wrote in message > news:20080416074908.2df73b6e@gmail.com... > On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:29:30 +0100 > .... >> Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the >> Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and RCD?
> One of the ones used for the Chunnel itself used to be next to the > visitor centre with a 'For Sale' sign on it - price £1. However, it > was a buyer collects sale.
I remember that - is it still there? You would need a fair old trailer to collect it, it was huge!
The Medway Handyman wrote: >> "TheOldFellow" <theoldfel...@gmail.com> wrote in message >> news:20080416074908.2df73b6e@gmail.com... >> On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:29:30 +0100 >> .... >>> Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the >>> Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and RCD? >> One of the ones used for the Chunnel itself used to be next to the >> visitor centre with a 'For Sale' sign on it - price £1. However, it >> was a buyer collects sale.
> I remember that - is it still there? You would need a fair old trailer to > collect it, it was huge!
> Wonder where it went?
AFAICR it was on ebay a few years back?
I know George Clooney and Matt Damon et al used it in Las Vegas last year underneath a casino they were ripping off, in order to get the building evacuated by simulating an earthquake.
ISTR they knackered one machine, and had to go back and get the second.
Not entirely sure how they got them to Vegas, mind...
>> "TheOldFellow" <theoldfel...@gmail.com> wrote in message >> news:20080416074908.2df73b6e@gmail.com... >> On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:29:30 +0100 >> .... >>> Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the >>> Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and RCD?
>> One of the ones used for the Chunnel itself used to be next to the >> visitor centre with a 'For Sale' sign on it - price £1. However, it >> was a buyer collects sale.
>I remember that - is it still there? You would need a fair old trailer to >collect it, it was huge!
On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:38:55 GMT "The Medway Handyman" <davidl...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> > "TheOldFellow" <theoldfel...@gmail.com> wrote in message > > news:20080416074908.2df73b6e@gmail.com... > > On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:29:30 +0100 > > .... > >> Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the > >> Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and RCD?
> > One of the ones used for the Chunnel itself used to be next to the > > visitor centre with a 'For Sale' sign on it - price £1. However, it > > was a buyer collects sale.
> I remember that - is it still there? You would need a fair old trailer to > collect it, it was huge!
Big eh? Probably not cordless then. Damn.
I now have this vision of a charger about house size with a tower crane to lift the battery pack into it....
Lobster wrote: > I know George Clooney and Matt Damon et al used it in Las Vegas last > year underneath a casino they were ripping off, in order to get the > building evacuated by simulating an earthquake.
They *should* have used the much-recommended Bosch Multi-Construction Drill Bits:-
"Use 1 bit for all applications!" - Screwfix
"These innovative multi-purpose drill bits are designed for drilling into all materials including wood, masonry, ceramics, UPVC and even steel." - Axminster
In article <66lkmhF2kp62...@mid.individual.net>, Rod <polygo...@ntlworld.com> writes:
> A court order is a difficult-to-beat excuse for not finishing off those > odds and ends you've been meaning to do for a while... > Following the order, neighbour Dean Dawson said: "The council has been > pussy-footing around him for years.
> "They would just check that any work he did had the right planning > permission. There has been a distinct lack of action. > "But it does grate on residents when they're told to take down satellite > dishes and you just look across the road at all that he's got away with."
I've been watching as that house was gradually destroyed over last 10 years or so (it started a long time before that), and I also was completely amazed that nothing was done to stop it earlier. I think it's in a conservation area.
That's an old picture -- it's been encased in scaffolding supporting the walls and a full temporary scaffold roof over the whole building for last couple of years now.
It does still look repairable though if you fancy a doer-upper for a bargin basement price.
-- Andrew Gabriel [email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]
Rod wrote: > Lobster wrote: >> I know George Clooney and Matt Damon et al used it in Las Vegas last >> year underneath a casino they were ripping off, in order to get the >> building evacuated by simulating an earthquake.
> They *should* have used the much-recommended Bosch Multi-Construction > Drill Bits:-
> "Use 1 bit for all applications!" - Screwfix
> "These innovative multi-purpose drill bits are designed for drilling > into all materials including wood, masonry, ceramics, UPVC and even > steel." - Axminster
Have you seen the price of the 5000mm bit though? ;-)
John Rumm wrote: > Rod wrote: >> Lobster wrote: >>> I know George Clooney and Matt Damon et al used it in Las Vegas last >>> year underneath a casino they were ripping off, in order to get the >>> building evacuated by simulating an earthquake.
>> They *should* have used the much-recommended Bosch Multi-Construction >> Drill Bits:-
>> "Use 1 bit for all applications!" - Screwfix
>> "These innovative multi-purpose drill bits are designed for drilling >> into all materials including wood, masonry, ceramics, UPVC and even >> steel." - Axminster
> Have you seen the price of the 5000mm bit though? ;-)
Well, assuming cost is based on cross sectional area, then it depends on length...
> The Medway Handyman wrote: >>> "TheOldFellow" <theoldfel...@gmail.com> wrote in message >>> news:20080416074908.2df73b6e@gmail.com... >>> On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:29:30 +0100 >>> .... >>>> Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the >>>> Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and RCD? >>> One of the ones used for the Chunnel itself used to be next to the >>> visitor centre with a 'For Sale' sign on it - price £1. However, it >>> was a buyer collects sale.
>> I remember that - is it still there? You would need a fair old trailer >> to collect it, it was huge!
>> Wonder where it went?
> AFAICR it was on ebay a few years back?
> I know George Clooney and Matt Damon et al used it in Las Vegas last year > underneath a casino they were ripping off, in order to get the building > evacuated by simulating an earthquake.
> ISTR they knackered one machine, and had to go back and get the second.
> Not entirely sure how they got them to Vegas, mind...
TheOldFellow <theoldfel...@gmail.com> wrote: > I've often considered tunnelling. There's a mountain nearby, and if I > could just get a tunnel there, just think of the rooms I could create. > Just like the dwarves in Lord of the Rings. Still there is the problem > of awakening the Orcs at the Town Hall.
Not to mention the problem of (a) Having to grow a long beard. (b) Getting wife to do the same. (c) Writing many, many songs about gold.
On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:17:55 +0100, "nightjar" <cpb@<insert my surname
here>.me.uk> wrote:
>"TheOldFellow" <theoldfel...@gmail.com> wrote in message >news:20080416074908.2df73b6e@gmail.com... >On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:29:30 +0100 >One of the ones used for the Chunnel itself used to be next to the visitor >centre with a 'For Sale' sign on it - price £1. However, it was a buyer >collects sale.
Very often they are left underground because they wouuld cost more to bring out and scrap than they are worth.
> > I've often considered tunnelling. There's a mountain nearby, and if I > > could just get a tunnel there, just think of the rooms I could create. > > Just like the dwarves in Lord of the Rings. Still there is the problem > > of awakening the Orcs at the Town Hall.
> Not to mention the problem of
(a) Having to grow a long beard. - not a problem, done it before. (b) Getting wife to do the same. - not a problem, spends enough on depilatory cream. (c) Writing many, many songs about gold. - hmm... yep, that's a problem.
>> "TheOldFellow" <theoldfel...@gmail.com> wrote in message >> news:20080416074908.2df73b6e@gmail.com... >> On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:29:30 +0100 >> .... >>> Do Screwfix do those tunnelling machines like those used on the >>> Chunnel? Are they cordless, or do I need an extension lead and RCD?
>> One of the ones used for the Chunnel itself used to be next to the >> visitor centre with a 'For Sale' sign on it - price £1. However, it >> was a buyer collects sale.
> I remember that - is it still there? You would need a fair old trailer to > collect it, it was huge!
This is absolute 'Gen' - got it off a guy at the bus-stop- so it must be true;-
Allegedly _a_ Tunnel Boring Machine TBM (the other(s) was driven down below one of the tunnels and abandoned) was reutilised to bore a long tunnel under the promenade of Hove towards Brighton. This tunnel acts a huge catchments device for surge surface water permitting a steady discharge of treated effluent out to sea rather than have the treatment plant overwhelmed by rain water run off. Afterwards the TBM was re-re-utilised to bore the 'Southwick Tunnel' pair of adjacent tunnels on the A27 dual carriageway Trunk Road (Brighton Bypass).
Don't know where it went after the 'Southwick Tunnel's job.
On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:59:33 UTC, "Brian Sharrock"
<b.sharr...@ntlworld.com> wrote: > Allegedly _a_ Tunnel Boring Machine TBM (the other(s) was driven down > below one of the tunnels and abandoned) was reutilised to bore a long tunnel > under the promenade of Hove towards Brighton. This tunnel acts a huge > catchments device for surge surface water permitting a steady discharge of > treated effluent out to sea rather than have the treatment plant overwhelmed > by rain water run off.
Yes, that's been done neear here (Whitstable) but it's a big tank with a concrete 'lid' (now a car park).
> Afterwards the TBM was re-re-utilised to bore the 'Southwick Tunnel' pair of > adjacent tunnels on the A27 dual carriageway Trunk Road (Brighton Bypass).
The tunnels which are now a little more famous, as seen on the speeding motorcyclist's YouTube video on the TV news yesterday!
-- The information contained in this post is copyright the poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by http://www.diybanter.com
Steve Firth wrote: > Not to mention the problem of (a) Having to grow a long beard. (b) > Getting wife to do the same. (c) Writing many, many songs about gold.
> Lobster wrote: >> I know George Clooney and Matt Damon et al used it in Las Vegas last year >> underneath a casino they were ripping off, in order to get the building >> evacuated by simulating an earthquake.
> They *should* have used the much-recommended Bosch Multi-Construction > Drill Bits:-
> "Use 1 bit for all applications!" - Screwfix
> "These innovative multi-purpose drill bits are designed for drilling into > all materials including wood, masonry, ceramics, UPVC and even steel." - > Axminster
Its a lie.. I still haven't drilled a hole in this 133 carat diamond so I can hang it as a pendant.
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