Families flee wall danger
Families have been forced to flee their Kidderminster homes because a towering wall above their properties could collapse at any minute.
Urgent action was taken by Worcestershire County Council to evacuate seven residents in Mill Street after visible signs showed "an accelerated rate of movement" in the wall. Cracks have now opened up in the carriageway surfacing to nearby Mill Lane, giving engineers visible evidence that the wall could be danger of falling down.
The evacuees left earlier this week and have had to find alternative accommodation where they are now waiting anxiously for news about their homes.
It is not yet known when they will be able to return. If the wall, which supports a busy road, does collapse, many more residents may be forced to leave.
Andrew Dickens, Wyre Forest District Council's head of cultural, leisure and commercial services, said the majority of those evacuated were staying with friends and relatives.
"Engineers are trying to stabilise the wall as quickly as possible. Potentially it would fall on to the houses. Any debris could go through rooftops and windows which is why we have evacuated people. Engineers say it is in immediate danger of collapse." West Mercia Police have also put emergency measures in place and have drawn up an exclusion zone.
Worcestershire County County council have already removed part of the bulging parapet wall and closed the adjacent section of Mill Lane.
Investigations have already been launched to find the cause of the problem but is expected to take months to complete.
Senior engineer Richard Attwood said: "We will design both temporary safety measures and a permanent solution, which will enable residents to return to their properties."
