Window pane falls from Arlington House in Margate during Storm Ciara and 'narrowly misses hitting man'
Published: 07:50, 11 February 2020
Updated: 08:01, 11 February 2020
A resident of Arlington House claims he was almost hit by a falling window pane caused by Storm Ciara as strong winds swept through the district on Sunday.
Lindon Brand says he was outside the block in All Saints Avenue in Margate when a pane of glass measuring about 4ft by 4ft smashed right next to him.
"I don't know which floor it fell from, but it was one of the 18 above," he said.
"If it had hit me it would have torn me to shreds. There was a lot of glass. It was about 10ft away to my left.
"It takes a lot to shock me so I'm ok, but something needs to be done to fix these windows - it's not the first time it's happened.
"A window fell out of my property when I lived in one of the upper levels and it's also happened to my neighbour.
"Money is seldom spent on the building and something needs to be done."
Mr Brand says it would only take a knock for some of the windows frames and panes to fall out.
A spokesman for Arlington House landlord Parsons Son and Basley, which took over the block from Trinity Estates in October, said surveyors and contractors have since been to the tower block and urgent work to replace windows will be carried out.
"We are working to get windows replaced and fixed," she said.
"We've had one or two people say their windows are loose or broken."
A fire crew was sent to the block with firefighters making the scene safe.
A spokesman confirmed that one fire engine attended.
“Crews removed two broken glass windows from the property and made the scene secure,” she added.
In Broadstairs, high winds and driving rain saw two vehicles crushed after part of a roof collapsed in the High Street just after 12.30pm on Sunday.
A blue car was left trapped under the fallen debris, with a mini-van also damaged.
Fire crews were called to the scene. Fortunately no-one was hurt.
In Vale Road in Broadstairs, part of a wall collapsed, leaving bricks strewn all over the road.
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Marijke Hall