A pensioner is refusing to leave her £1million clifftop home at risk of landslides which could ‘collapse at any moment’.
Determined Marian Walters, 80, has vowed to ‘stay exactly where I am’ as her property hangs above a dangerous slope.
The property in Folkestone, Kent, has been her home for 48 years and has stunning views of the English Channel and France.
The mayhem started in January, when trees and debris began to tumble down the cliff, but wooden planks and 14-foot pilings have kept it from falling.
The Road of Remembrance, where the property sits, has been closed since January due to ongoing landslides, with a second hitting in February.
A pensioner is refusing to leave her £1million clifftop home at risk of landslides which could ‘collapse at any moment’. Pictured: The property on top of the Landslip at the Road of Remembrance in Folkestone, Kent
The property in Folkestone, Kent, has been her home for 48 years and has stunning views of the English Channel
Marian Walters, 80, (pictured outside her home which has a view of the English Channel and France) has vowed to ‘stay exactly where I am’ as her property hangs above a dangerous slope
A team of experts, council workers and construction specialists have been in place ever since and work every day outside her home and in her garden to make the property safe.
But the widow is adamant she is going nowhere.
She told MailOnline: ‘I feel very safe. I don’t understand what all the fuss is about.
‘I am an 80-year-old lady. But I am not fragile and I am not elderly.
‘I am going nowhere. People keep telling me I am so brave. But I feel fine. They do not bother me.
‘There was an original landslide in 2000 and nobody took responsibility for it then. There have been others since.
‘A neighbour lost a vegetable garden as a result. I am not a typical 80-year-old. And I am not sitting here in fear.’
Marian spoke while overlooking the incredible views over the Channel.
She said: ‘The house is worth around £1million but I am not moving. My husband’s ashes are in the garden. It means a lot to me. I love the property. The views are fantastic.
Marian Walters’ home in Priory Gardens, Folkestone
A shot from above the property shows the precarious situation of the home
The Road of Remembrance, where the property sits, has been closed since January due to ongoing landslides
How the Road of Remembrance now looks in Folkestone
‘I’m on a floating platform and I’ve got 14-foot pilings at the back of my drive, so even if the land did slip I would be okay.
‘I am very happy here and I won’t be moving for anyone. I have been made to feel safe.’
She has praised the work Kent County Council have been doing in the area. She added: ‘The way Kent County Council has dealt with the situation has been incredible – they have been so helpful.
‘They are doing tests on the stability of the land and I am told the work being carried out will secure the safety of the house for 120 years.’
Kent County Council (KCC) has confirmed the Road of Remembrance will not reopen this year – much to the frustration of some residents.
One local said: ‘It feels to me like it could collapse at any moment. She’s a much braver woman than I am. It would worry me sick.’
Another shopper said: ‘It’s incredible how she is staying up there. I would want to get out as soon as possible.’
The local authority said since mid-June, contractors have been undertaking pre-works in the area.
Tree surgeons have exposed the embankment by removing trees and vegetation to see the extent of the landslip.
Pictured: The view from Marian’s home of 48 years, which shows the English Channel
The view from the edge of Marian Walters’ garden
The town has been hit by a whopping eight landslips this year, at least
Other work is then ongoing to make it safe in the next few weeks.
The town has been hit by at least eight landslips this year, with heavy rainfall, the weight of trees and the make-up of the ground blamed.
Cabinet member for highways and transport, Neil Baker, previously said: ‘A complex situation like this one ultimately leads to a complex solution.
‘This is an essential road closure to ensure the future of the Road of Remembrance is successful and safe.
‘I know this will be very disappointing news to the residents of Folkestone, particularly how it affects certain events in the town.’
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