RESIDENTS HIT BY BLOCK FLOOD WILL HAVE FIRST REFUSAL ON FUTURE HIGH STREET DEVELOPMENT

RESIDENTS left devastated after being told they will never return to their town centre homes after major flooding have been promised the chance to reunite their community.

- By DANIEL HOLLAND Local democracy reporter

Families had to be evacuated from the council-owned Priory Court in Gateshead earlier this month after water came flowing “like a waterfall” through the block and caused such severe damage that it could take months to restore its electricity supply.

Gateshead Council is now decommissioning the high-rise apartments with immediate effect, bringing forward a closure which was already planned. The local authority previously agreed a plan last year to ultimately remove the 1950s-built block, as well as neighbouring Peareth and Park Court, and move their residents into 100 new council homes at the southern end of Gateshead High Street which are yet to be built.