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DUO: The Griffiths brothers at home.
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Family's fury over `eviction on the cheap'
Neal Keeling29/ 7/2005
A FAMILY who have steadfastly refused to make way for a £120m development are now facing eviction from their homes.
Brothers Anthony and Guy Griffiths and their mother Bernadette each own a three-bedroom terrace house in Hampshire Street, Higher Broughton, Salford.
They claim they are being forced to sell their homes to the city council at a cut price.
They have been offered £22,000 each for their properties, but they say similar houses nearby are selling for £100,000.
The Broughton Green scheme requires five streets to be bulldozed. Out of 50 houses in Hampshire Street only 27 are standing, and only three - belonging to the Griffiths - are occupied.
The land is needed to build replacement sports facilities as new homes are being built on former football pitches at nearby Northumberland Street.
The council has been in negotiations with the family for a year since it was given permission to compulsorily purchase the houses in August last year, after a public inquiry.
But talks have hit a stalemate and the council has written to them warning that eviction proceedings will start on August 31 if they do not leave.
Anthony bought his house for £9,500 in 1983. In the late eighties Guy paid £27,000 for his and Bernadette £17,000 for hers.
Settle
Anthony, whose son and daughter live with him, said: "My brother and I have worked hard to pay off our mortgages. Why should we settle for £22,000 when properties are going for £100,000 around here in neighbouring streets that are not being demolished?
"The council says we would also get £25,000 each if we used that money to buy a property in the north Salford area, and stayed in it for 10 years.
"There is no way we could buy something for £57,000 in the current market. We are being driven out of our homes."
The Broughton Green development was launched this year. The prices range from £100,000 to £250,000 for apartments, and £150,000 to £450,000 for houses.
The scheme is the first part of a seven-year project aimed at bringing 700 new homes, a new library, youth club and sports facilities to the area.
Salford city council leader John Merry, who lives in Broughton, said: "The Griffiths have refused access to our surveyors so they can work out a suitable level of compensation. The offer of £22,000 was made some time ago.
"We have been in negotiations for a long time, and are still willing to talk. The Griffiths want us to provide them each with an alternative house, but I do not think that would be an acceptable use of taxpayers' money. The offer we are making is aimed at people who want to stay in the area and I think it is reasonable.
"This development needs to go ahead for the good of the community."
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
I have heard so many stories around this area, I would like to hear more reports on this so people take notice including the government on how unfair this is, I would also recommend looking into the issues around New Islington and the Ancoats area the same is also happening there.
29/07/2005 at 16:52
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Was BBC right to let Wossy back to work?
31/07/2005 at 19:26
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