The Deputy High Bailiff has ordered repairs to be carried out to two dangerous retaining walls which are at risk of collapse.

Judith Tattersall-Bostock has been given four months to make good the repairs to the walls at the rear of her property on Summerhill Grove, Douglas.

Douglas Council went to court to seek an order compelling the works be carried out.

It argued that if the walls are not repaired, members of the public may be injured and neighbouring property damaged by falling masonry and debris.

But the Summerhill Grove resident did not accept that either or both of the retaining walls are wholly or partly within her ownership or that they are in a dangerous condition.

One of the stone and mortar walls is about 10m high and runs roughly 90 degrees to the Promenade.

The other stone wall is about 5m high above some steps and borders the rear of L’Experience restaurant.

Wire mesh netting had been placed at an earlier unknown date in an effort to prevent stonework falling.

Before 2016, the then proprietors of L’Experience had complained about the state of the walls and a temporary timber boarding was erected by the Corporation to protect restaurant staff and members of the public. Douglas Council called for remedial and strengthening works to be carried out to the design of a qualified structural engineer.

But Mrs Tattersall-Bostock argued that the deeds for her property were not clear and the walls pre-dated her home on Summerhill Grove.

However, Deputy High Bailiff Christopher Arrowsmith said it was appropriate for the order to be made, concluding the walls did pose a danger to the public and commercial and residential properties below.

He said: ’They are both extremely large and the impact of even a partial failure of one of them on persons or property below them would undoubtedly be significant.’

The works to remove the danger must be carried out within four months, he ruled.

L'Experience remains very much open for business.