Video: Victoria Road
residents talk about what happened

by Luke Hollands

Homes built on an old quarry in Broadstairs have been
evacuated after they partially collapsed.

Firefighters were called to Victoria Road just before
7.30pm Wednesday after initial reports of a gas leak.

Six houses have been affected and 10 people spent the night in a
local community centre after the homes were evacuated.

Cracks have appeared in the walls of the houses and the road
surface has dipped. The interior of the properties was also badly
affected.

Nichola Kenneford, a combat HR specialist with the army, lives
at number 56.

She was in one of the worst hit houses with her parents, her
15-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old nephew.

She said: "I'll be glad to see the back of 2009. My sister died
in the summer and I'm helping to look after my nephews. It's been a
horrible year."

The families are unsure as to when they will be allowed back to
their homes - but Christmas may come too soon for them.

The houses are built on an old quarry. A spokesman for Kent Fire
and Rescue Service said "the buildings suffered from a series of
structural collapses".

A spokesman for Thanet District Council said the houses suffered
"some sudden subsidence".

The spokesman added: "Council building inspectors and structural
engineers are investigating the properties to establish the current
position.

"Evacuated residents who were unable to stay with friends or
relatives have been found temporary accommodation by the council's
housing team."

Water and gas supplies were isolated. Fire crews were at the
scene until around 1.20am Thursday.