Unfortunately, we are all desperately worried about the integrity of our properties if this diversion goes ahead on 9 January 2023.

One  of our Group bought their house in February 2022. As part of their due diligence, the home was surveyed. The surveyor in his report, advised that bungaroosh walls are known to become friable and are particularly subject to structural movement. The report went on to say that changes to ground conditions can cause movement in buildings. As advised, they checked with Brighton & Hove City Council to see whether there were any transport proposals that may adversely affect the house, such as a diversion. The answer was "Not as far as it is known." Thirteen months previously, the Secretary of State for Transport had written to the Leader of the Council Cllr Phelim MacCafferty advising him of his successful bid for funding for the Western Road Improvement and other projects. Further funding had already been obtained from the Highway Maintenance Challenge Fund. The Western Road Improvement Project has been in the Council's pipeline for years. Why were Upper North Street residents only advised of the diversion days before preliminary work on the project started?

As soon as we received the brown envelope (see yesterday's update) on 18 November, we immediately  asked for an urgent meeting with Council officers to get further information. This information was drip fed to us over the weeks leading up to Christmas. We have requested:

• All information and expert reports relating to the waiver of the 7.5T weight restriction to allow 15T buses to pass along the street every 2 minutes for 2 years. There are none. 
• The Council to conduct pre-contract surveys of the homes in Upper North Street.  The answer was no.

We also raised the pre-contract surveys in our letter to Cllr Phelim MacCafferty. He has not replied directly but referred us to a response from Council officers - no, not necessary.

One of our Group has contacted a structural engineer who had previously provided advice on their property. His response was that ideally, the homes should be surveyed, but as there is so little time left before the diversion starts, all home owners in Upper North Street are advised to photograph their walls, and date stamp the photographs. Who will pay for the repairs?