Residents Ingrid Smyth and Jenny Lloyd are pleased that work on restoring their gardens is finally progressing (16725/03)GAZETTE & HERALD: RELIEF is beginning to spread among residents of Churchill Close in Calne after work began to repair their subsiding gardens.

The gardens of houses numbered 35 to 51 have been vanishing over the past eight years, with residents

campaigning for help from North Wiltshire District Council.

Some properties have seen their gardens vanish by as much as 15 feet.

Last year the council set aside £650,000 to tackle the subsidence.

The land in question is owned by the council and the houses are a mixture of privately owned and Westlea Housing Association properties.

Since the problem began in 1997, homeowners have expressed their anger at the council for not doing enough to help them and had feared the damage may ruin their properties.

The value of the houses has significantly dropped since the issue came to light and residents have found it impossible to sell or re-mortgage their houses.

Some residents have suffered health and stress-related problems, such as stomach ulcers.

However, optimism is growing among residents that they will now be given their lives back as the work takes shape.

The land behind the houses is being strengthened to allow each garden to be extended, with work expected to finish by the end of September or start of October.

Mrs Ingrid Smyth, a child-minder who lives on the road, has been one of the leaders of the fight to save the gardens and she could not hide her delight at the sight of the work starting.

She said: "We're ecstatic to finally see the workmen here.

Mrs Smyth said she was concerned that the residents had not seen the exact plans for their gardens yet, but added that she was delighted to finally see work happening.

"It was a joy to see the machinery down there," she said.

Mrs Smyth said that she and the other residents wished to thank the council's officers who had dealt with the case as well as Coun Ross Henning and Coun Tony Trotman for the work on their behalf.

A spokesman for the council said: "Remedial works have been carried out and officers are finalising plans with contractors on the work that needs to be done.

"An open day will be arranged to allow residents to view the latest plans for the work as soon as the plans have been finalised. The council will be writing to the local residents to clarify the latest situation."