A restaurant owner in Worcester says it is a 'weight off his mind' after the council agreed to pay for traffic lights on a main road after the collapse of a massive retaining wall at his home.
The retaining wall collapsed in Reservoir Lane in Worcester, sending rubble tumbling down into the road below in February - and nothing has yet been cleared up as the debate rages on about who is responsible for the work.
As a result of the incident, temporary traffic lights were placed in Rainbow Hill, one of the busiest roads in the city which caused delays for drivers.
Worcestershire County Council has this week removed the lights after almost three months.
Olive Branch and Impasto restaurant owner Adam Giagnotti, 42, has spoken of his relief that the council has agreed to not only remove the lights but pay for them.
However, there are still concerns, as the homeowner, he will be left with a £400,000 repair bill as he battles with insurers and tries to work with the council to find a solution.
The traffic lights were removed earlier this week, announced by Worcestershire County Council on Wednesday.
The father-of-two, speaking on Friday, said: "It's a weight off my mind. I won't be getting charged for them. They told me two days ago. It's fantastic. It will have saved me around £50,000 I'm guessing. This is one worry off my mind."
However, he still said there was the mess of all the rubble in Reservoir Lane to sort out which has remained in situ since the wall collapsed on Friday, February 9.
Meanwhile, he continues to negotiate with the insurance company and gather evidence to get them to pay out and remains grateful for the support and understanding of his neighbours.
"This battle over the traffic lights is won but the war is not over. Thanks to the council for their help but please don't stop there. They need to clear the mess. I'm grateful for their intervention, not charging for the traffic light system but the help can't stop there."
The 'dangerous' garden is now out of bounds for the family of Adam Giagnotti, including his two young children who must play inside.
His youngest boy, five-year-old Oscar, offered all his pocket money towards repairing the collapsed wall.
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Even the sandpit where his children, aged five and seven, play toppled down from the 12-metre high wall into the road below.
They employed a gardener to maintain the wall and keep it clear of any vegetation. They paid £217,000 for the house when they bought it but have since invested a further £200,000 to turn it into a five-bedroom property.
Mr Giagnotti has been letting neighbours charge their electric cars on his drive as some still cannot get access to their own charging points in garages following the collapse.
The county council also removed vegetation and carried out a structural safety inspection before the temporary traffic lights were removed from Rainbow Hill, Worcester.
Reservoir Lane and a section of the footway on Rainbow Hill remain closed.
We have approached Worcestershire County Council for a comment.
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