Urgent call for action over crumbling flats

Residents in three crumbling council-owned flat blocks in Dudley are demanding a quick fix over subsidence which has left huge cracks in their homes.

A dozen flats in Sherwood Road and Wyre Road, Wollaston, Stourbridge, have been affected by subsidence since they were built on a former landfill site.

The state of the buildings has deteriorated with cracks opening up in external and internal walls. Residents say many doors no longer fit their frames as a result of the continuing problem.

Officers from the housing department at Dudley Council, which owns the freehold for the building, met half a dozen tenants and leaseholders to discuss planned repairs last night.

However despite being shown plans and assured new kitchens and bathrooms will be installed, those who attended the meeting at St James's Church in Belfry Drive said they remained concerned.

Retired finance broker Barry Reynolds, of Sherwood Road, said the council had been aware of the subsidence for "at least three years". As a leaseholder, he says he has been left "in limbo", unable to carry out renovation work or sell his property.

The 75-year-old father-of-five, who has 10 grandchildren and three great-grand children, said after last night's meeting: "I don't think any of my questions have been answered.

"They say work could start in January on some of the blocks but why is it going to take that long? It's already been three years."

Tenant Paul Simcock, aged 44, who lives in the Wyre Road block, said he was fed up of uncertainty over when the works would be carried out.

The former soldier, who lives with his 11-year-old son Alex and has his two daughters Sophie, 13, and Libby, six, at weekends, said he had been told repairs could take up to 16 weeks.

Mr Simcock, who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, added: "The council's handling of this has been rubbish. It's like Steptoe and Son." Attending council officer Peter Lake declined to speak to the Express & Star.