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CCTV captures moment cliff collapses onto car at Imperial Business Estate, Gravesend

CCTV footage has emerged showing the moment part of a chalk cliff collapsed and fell onto a car “completely out of the blue”.

The section of the land, along Pier Road, in Gravesend, gave way yesterday (April 15) at around 11.15am.

Two fire engines, multiple fire vehicles and the police attended the scene and evacuated properties in the surrounding area as a precaution.

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

Footage from Medway Security Wholesale, in Imperial Business Estate, West Mill, caught the moment mounds of dirt, mud and vegetation came tumbling down on a vehicle parked nearby.

In the seconds leading up to the incident, crashing and rumbling sounds can be heard as debris falls from above.

It can then be seen landing on top of a car which was parked in a secure car park.

Video footage shows the moment the debris fell onto a car. Picture: Charlotte Burnige
Video footage shows the moment the debris fell onto a car. Picture: Charlotte Burnige

Director of the security system supplier, Vicky Goodin, said the area has since been taped off.

She added: “The car park is being restricted and we are waiting to hear if and when it is safe.

“We are a small business and are trying to trade. We are carrying on as we cannot afford to shut.”

Director of nearby car body shop, Coachwork Renovations Limited, Charlotte Burnige, said she has now been left with an insecure work area.

She added: “It is completely out of the blue. It was unprovoked, no one was working up there.

“We are so lucky that no one was in the car park, someone could have been killed.

The area has been taped off. Picture: Vicky Goodin
The area has been taped off. Picture: Vicky Goodin
Part of the chalk cliff that collapsed. Picture: Charlotte Burnige
Part of the chalk cliff that collapsed. Picture: Charlotte Burnige

“It needs to be looked at by someone like a structural engineer who can tell us if it is safe. It is a really unusual event.”

The landslide landed on top of two customers’ cars which had been parked in the secure area while they awaited repairs and a storage container that the firm will need to replace.

Charlotte said their clients have been provided with courtesy cars and she will be looking to claim back the cost of repairs from their insurance provider.

Screwfix confirmed it was temporarily closed and said all customers with impacted orders have been contacted and refunded or redirected to their nearest store.

A spokeswoman added: “We will reopen once we have confirmation that the site is safe for our colleagues and customers.”

As of April 26, the store had reopened.

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