Cracks appear at ‘gold-plated’ Orchard Close

Thursday 21st July 2011, 2:29PM BST.

Retired taxi driver George Scraton with the 1992 Guernsey Evening Press announcing the completion of Orchard Close on time and within budget. The newspaper also reported that problems anticipated by the surveyor had not materialised. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1161366)

LARGE cracks have appeared on the so-called ‘gold-plated’ Orchard Close States houses.

The 14 Hougue du Pommier homes were unveiled in 1992. Large cracks have already blighted the outside of the properties and some have been visible indoors.

Residents said the problems started about five or six years ago.

‘There are cracks inside the house as well as outside,’ said George Scraton, 71, who has lived in number nine for nearly 20 years with his wife, Joyce.