Councils clean up after the quake

3 May 07
Council engineers and surveyors have been out in force assessing the damage to buildings across Kent following last weekend's earthquake, which damaged 1,500 properties and left many families homeless.

04 May 2007

Council engineers and surveyors have been out in force assessing the damage to buildings across Kent following last weekend's earthquake, which damaged 1,500 properties and left many families homeless.

Folkestone bore the brunt of the quake, which measured 4.3 on the Richter scale, although there was also damage in Ashford and Dover.

Shepway District Council chief executive Alistair Stewart said: 'The safety of our residents is our top concern. Our surveyors have worked all weekend to assess damaged homes and advise residents on whether there are any immediate dangers. They have also been with the Fire Brigade removing damaged chimneys and making buildings safe.'

The council has also set up a team to help residents with the paperwork involved in applying to get repairs carried out.

About 40 homes have been declared unsafe. The council has housed some families in a local hotel, although many more made their own arrangements. A Shepway spokeswoman told Public Finance it hoped that all buildings would be checked and made safe later this week. She added that no assessment had yet been made of the cost of the exercise.

PFmay2007

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