Gable end of house blown off by storm
DAMAGE TO CITY HOME
COUNCIL workers were yesterday starting to repair the gable end of a house which was stripped away by Storm Ciara.
Repairs were due to be carried out by Leicester City Council staff at the house in Milnroy Road, Thurnby Lodge.
The outer brick wall of the semidetached council house was dislodged by the high winds on Sunday.
A city council spokesman said: “Storm Ciara caused significant damage to a council house in Milnroy Road.
“The high winds caused the outer skin of brickwork on the gable end wall of the property to fall away.
“Building control visited the home on Sunday and a detailed structural survey was carried out.
“The building is safe for the tenant to remain in, although we have offered alternative accommodation while repairs are carried out.
“We are aiming to start repair work today (Tuesday).
“The passageway alongside the house has been made safe in the meantime.”
Storm Ciara also brought down the gable end of a three-storey house in Hamilton.
It brought bricks and masonry crashing down on to a car parked at the side of the property, on the corner of Hamilton Circle and Pickhill Road.
Residents in two houses in Fosse Road North were evacuated from their homes after part of chimney fell into the street.
The residents were out of their houses for over three hours after the road was closed to allow firefighters to make the chimney stack safe.
The alarm was raised at about 6.30pm and the residents were allowed back into their homes at 10pm.
Storm Ciara brought chaos to the county with trains in and out of Leicester and flights at East Midlands Airport cancelled and many roads closed by falling trees and damaged street furniture.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said it had received 65 weatherrelated calls on Sunday alone.