'We're still standing': 50 years since Kidderminster flats bombshell

On Thursday, January 15, 1970, families woke up to a letter on their doormats containing the bombshell news that the two tower blocks had been deemed unstable and needed to be evacuated immediately.

The letter was from the council's housing manager, Mr A G Lewis, who told residents there was "a real possibility of a collapse if a gale occurs".

Army trucks were parked in St Cecilia Close on standby while officials and volunteers moved in to help get more than 120 families out and into emergency accommodation.

Across Hoo Road, volunteers were making tea for evacuees and two telephones were fitted at St Cecilia's Church to co-ordinate the activities of various help organisations.

One resident told The Shuttle that afternoon: "I won't be coming back to live here. I'd never feel safe again."

Another said: "It was such short notice this morning. It doesn't give us a chance to do anything."

An appeal ran in The Shuttle the following day to find temporary homes for the evacuated residents.

Some of the families, which included elderly people and pregnant women, were sent to alternative council houses, while others moved in with relatives, into caravans or hotels, and even to a nearby army camp for a short time.

Tenants were told they wouldn't suffer any financial loss and would be able to move back in in nine months' time - but some wouldn't return for seven years, after extensive works to strengthen the buildings were completed.

The evacuation came after a report received by the old town council on Christmas Eve determined the flats were unstable - but apparently did not recommend evacuation at that time.

The flats had been built four years earlier by Wolverhampton-based Tarmac Building Ltd at a cost of £400,000.

But it was only after a meeting with the Ministry of Housing that the council decided to evacuate.

In the weeks following, some residents complained the council had known about the condition of the flats for some time.

One former tenant described having to line the window sills of her flat with beer mugs to catch incoming rainwater, and a woman who lived in a neighbouring maisonette was quoted saying: "The flats have been leaning ever since we moved in four years ago."

A 10-year-old evacuee told reporters at the time: "When there's a gale blowing, you can see the flats swaying."

Speaking to The Shuttle this week, one Stourport couple, who lived on the top floor of the high rise flats, described the buildings' potential for collapse as "the best kept secret in Kidderminster's history".

Jenny and Tony said: "We moved to the Hoobrook flats from temporary lodgings so it was our first proper home. The views were wonderful, we were so happy there.

"We had only been there seven months when we woke up one morning to that letter and police cars outside. We were in our 20s at the time so we just took it all in our stride.

"We couldn't believe it when we saw in the newspaper the next day the council had known about it for weeks. People say it's the best kept secret in the history of the town.

"I still think of that song 'I'm Still Standing' every time I go past."