Mr Campbell points to the damage on his machine shortly after his narrow escape. A pleasure ride on his newly-renovated motor cycle became a Sunday lunchtime nightmare for a 21-year-old Burnley man when a wall being demolished at Turf Moor football ground collapsed into Brunshaw Rd. Lancashire County Council stone mason Mr Bill Campbell later described the incident as “the luckiest day of my life.”
Mr Campbell was only a few hundred yards from his home, riding his Triumph machine towards Pike Hill, when a section of the wall of the main stand, about 100ft long and 12ft high, crashed into the road. The majority o the brickwork, the higher section, fell inward as intended by the demolition contractor, Mr Maurice Tate. But Mr Campbell suddenly found himself engulfed in a storm of bricks and dust. He said “I have never been so frightened. The wall was caving in before my eyes and all I could do was swing right across to the other side of the road. Fortunately, there was only a van coming in the opposite direction, which stopped, allowing me to find an escape route.” Mr Campbell’s machine was slightly damaged and he received a minor cut on the leg. “It was quite a let-off and I still feel shaken half an hour after the collapse, at2pm.”
Residents of Brunshaw rd were also similarly indignant. Mrs Doris Hephrun, who lives in the immediate vicinity, summed up angrily “We are upset about this work being done while we are still living here. They may have authority to go ahead, but it is morally wrong.” Mrs Hephrun added “We are not being treated properly; we are being treated like dirt. It was like an earthquake. There was a terrific bang with bricks and dust everywhere.”
Mr Tate, when asked for his comments on the neighbours’ criticism, said “Every precaution was taken on this job. We went to great lengths to make sure the wall was pulled inwards towards the pitch, but a small section went the other way. I am so sorry, but this is a hazard of the job.”
Mr Tate added that every effort had been taken not to inconvenience the public during what was a difficult, but not dangerous, job of demolition. On the motor cyclist, Mr Tate added that his assistant, former Burnley FC player Mr James Scott, had been positioned specially to give warning. “Apparently, Mr Campbell did not see Jimmy’s signal.” Added Mr Tate