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Cars damaged in cliff collapse at Pier Road, Gravesend, onto Imperial Business Estate

15:54, 15 April 2024

updated: 16:25, 15 April 2024

Multiple cars have been damaged and properties evacuated following a landslide.

Part of the cliff at Pier Road, Gravesend, collapsed this morning (April 15) and fell into the Imperial Business Estate below.

Part of the chalk cliff has collapsed. Picture: Charlotte Burnige
Part of the chalk cliff has collapsed. Picture: Charlotte Burnige

Two fire engines, multiple fire vehicles and the police attended the scene at around 11.15am.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Sevice said crews were called to West Mill and evacuated properties in the surrounding area as a precaution.

No injuries have been reported and crews had left around two hours later.

Nearby resident Jay - who did not wish to give his surname - said he was first alerted to the landslide by police officers just before lunchtime.

He said: “I had the police come to my door advising us to not use the garden. They were knocking on all the doors along Pier Road.

Some cars have been damaged due to the incident. Picture: Charlotte Burnige
Some cars have been damaged due to the incident. Picture: Charlotte Burnige

“I was only in the garden yesterday and there were no signs. The police have asked us to call the emergency services if we hear anything.

“It looks like it had gone down the back of two businesses. It has been taped off now.”

Pictures of the cliff face taken from the below Imperial Business Estate show a large gap where the trees have been wiped out.

Other images show vehicles covered in debris, vegetation and mud which has fallen on top and damaged them.

Director of the car body shop, Coachwork Renovations Limited, Charlotte Burnige, said the business has been left with an insecure work area following the incident.

Fire crews were called. Picture: Charlotte Burnige
Fire crews were called. Picture: Charlotte Burnige

A spokesman for Kent County Council (KCC) said they have not been asked to assist.

Jay added that the cliff face has partially collapsed in the past causing him to lose a garden fence around 10 years ago.

He said: “When we had really bad wind and rain a lot of it fell. We have lost some of the garden in the past but not this time.”

It comes a year after the nearby road A226 Galley Hill, between Swanscombe High Street and Ebbsfleet United’s Kuflink Stadium, collapsed.

The road is still closed with residents and businesses left counting the financial, emotional and physical costs.

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