A MARYHILL woman has threatened her housing association with legal action if she falls on the path outside her home, should leaking water freeze over.

Water has been running onto Fingal Street for weeks, leaving local resident Eileen Dempsey furious and worried that it could be dangerous.

The 71-year-old said: “If I slip and fall on the ice if it freezes over, I’ll be suing.”

Glasgow Times:

She also fears that the water could be affecting the foundations of the homes.

“I’m worried we’re going to end up through the ground and into the next street with subsidence,” claimed Eileen.

“They’re using Covid as an excuse. All they do is put the rents up and we’re totally ignored.”

Maryhill Housing Association apologised for the disruption and inconvenience, saying they had been in contact with Eileen and the residents of all the affected blocks to inform them of the action being taken.

Glasgow Times:

Eileen said she has been in contact with Maryhill Housing Association about the problem but was not satisfied with their response.

She said: “They dug a few holes and I thought that was the problem solved. Time passed and I noticed they had filled them in and the water was still pouring out.

Glasgow Times:

“I pointed out to them: We’re coming into winter, this hill is bad enough at the best of times with ice.”

She said her neighbours were also raising concerns about the problem with the housing association.

We told earlier this month how the embattled social landlord, which controls around 3000 properties in the north of the city had hired a consultant at the cost of £13,000 improve the way it is run following two investigations and a string of resignations.

Glasgow Times:

Eileen is a member of the organisation’s tenant service improvement group through which she has demanded answers about the origin of the leak and for it to be fixed as soon as possible.

A spokeswoman for the housing association said: “Maryhill Housing is aware of water leaking through a retaining wall outside numbers 56-68 Fingal Street and have been carrying out investigations into the cause of this over the last few weeks.

“Operatives from Scottish Water have carried out an initial diagnosis and have confirmed that there is no burst pipe. They are carrying out further testing to assess if the water is ground water.

“We have also commissioned our own specialist contractor to try to find the source of the water. Our investigations will continue until we establish the cause and a long term solution. In the meantime, our contractor has dug temporary gullies to channel the water off of the pathways and into drains and these are working well at the moment.

Glasgow Times:

“We will continue to check the weather forecast daily, including over the festive period, for any indication of a period of very low temperatures. If required, our in-house neighbourhood team who are available 24/7 will be deployed to grit or de-ice any affected areas.

“We have been assured that there will be no damage to properties as a result of the leaking water however there will likely need to be work done in the coming weeks and months to the embankment and the retaining wall. We will provide more information to customers as soon as we have agreed the timescales for carrying out these works.

“We can assure them that their safety is our number one priority and we are working to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Scottish Water was approached for comment.