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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Newburn flood-damaged flats: Demolition begins | Newburn flood-damaged flats: Demolition begins |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Demolition work has begun at a block of flats left close to collapse by flooding in Newcastle. | Demolition work has begun at a block of flats left close to collapse by flooding in Newcastle. |
| A stone platform has been built to allow heavy machinery to access Spencer Court in Newburn. | A stone platform has been built to allow heavy machinery to access Spencer Court in Newburn. |
| MGL Demolition is carrying out the work on behalf of developer Dunelm Homes. It is expected to take about two weeks. | MGL Demolition is carrying out the work on behalf of developer Dunelm Homes. It is expected to take about two weeks. |
| Families were moved from their homes after the building's foundations were washed away when a culvert collapsed on 25 September during flash floods. | Families were moved from their homes after the building's foundations were washed away when a culvert collapsed on 25 September during flash floods. |
| An excavator with a reach of 34m (about 110ft) is being used to dismantle the building in a "safe and controlled way", MGL said. | An excavator with a reach of 34m (about 110ft) is being used to dismantle the building in a "safe and controlled way", MGL said. |
| The roof of the four-floor, eight-flat complex has been removed. | The roof of the four-floor, eight-flat complex has been removed. |
| 'Very stressful' | |
| Nany Blake, who lives in evacuated flats behind Spencer Court, said most residents did not want to watch their homes being flattened. | Nany Blake, who lives in evacuated flats behind Spencer Court, said most residents did not want to watch their homes being flattened. |
| She said: "I've been out of my flat for months and watching this is heartbreaking. | |
| "The residents watched their flats being built in 2006 and now just six years on they are coming down. | "The residents watched their flats being built in 2006 and now just six years on they are coming down. |
| "People never thought they would be demolished so there are a lot of possessions still inside. | |
| "It has been very stressful - I've done everything I can to dry out my property to move back in. I was about to move back in then the floods hit again September." | |
| MGL Demolition managing director, Mark Davison, said workers would try their best to salvage residents' possession. | |
| Brian Manning, executive director of Dunelm Homes, said: "I'm shocked that apartments we built such a short time ago are having to come down it circumstances out of our control." | Brian Manning, executive director of Dunelm Homes, said: "I'm shocked that apartments we built such a short time ago are having to come down it circumstances out of our control." |
| Residents of the eight flats are currently in temporary homes. | |
| Neither Northumberland Estates which owns the land where the culvert stands or Dunelm Homes have admitted liability for the situation. | |
| About 40 million litres (8.7m gallons) of water was pumped out of the estate after the downpours. |