Hove flat residents advised not to use balconies after collapse

Photographs from the scene show the balconies of a first and second floor flat having completely fallen away

Residents of a block of flats where two balconies collapsed have been told not to use theirs until safety checks have been carried out.

The balconies fell into the gardens below, crushing a car parked beneath them, at about 13:00 GMT on Saturday at Prince of Wales Court in Hove.

Brighton & Hove City Council said the freeholder had appointed a structural engineer to assess the relevant areas.

Councillor Liz Loughran said: "We are very pleased no-one was hurt."

Photographs from the scene on Saturday showed the balconies of a first and second floor flat having completely fallen away.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue cordoned off the area before handing the incident over to the property's managing agents.

A car underneath the balconies was crushed by falling rubble

Ms Loughran, chair of the council's planning committee, said the authority was "very sorry" to hear of the collapse and "very pleased" no-one was injured.

She said the structural engineer appointed by the freeholder would assess the relevant areas, as well as the remaining balconies, and provide a recommendation report.

In the meantime, the council has advised residents not to access their balconies until they have been checked for safety.

Ms Loughran said: "The area below the collapse, including the fallen balconies and section of car park, will remain cordoned off with robust steel fencing and hoarding until the overhead structures have been deemed safe."

The block of flats was the home of television scriptwriter John Sullivan, whose achievements included Only Fools and Horses.

He died in 2011 and a blue plaque in his memory was unveiled at Prince of Wales Court last year.

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