In about 1966, Kidderminster Borough Council were informed that two new tower blocks were, in certain wind conditions, in danger of collapse. This was following a change of regs due to the Ronan Point disaster and applied retrospectively to existing new-builds.
Phill's dad, Harry, was chair of the housing committee.
First they asked central government for advice, and were told it was their problem, then the committee met and fixed it so that Harry had to make a casting vote, ball his court, as Griff would say.
He was as tense as I ever saw him in the days following, but we had no idea of what was the issue. He wouldn't even tell the committee what he intended to do.
First he got mobile homes moved into all the spare council land, then at 6am he moved the army in and they evacuated all the flats and surrounding maisonettes. Nobody was given time to object and refuse to leave and every family was accommodated at once.
His priority was always people, which is why, even as a Tory, he got re-elected time and again in a Labour Ward.
There was criticism of the decision as the flats didn't fall down but I think he was absolutely right.
The court case dragged on for years, with the contractors eventually caving in and strengthening the buildings so that they could be re-occupied, ...but boy did it take a time to get that resolution.