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Woman wins homes demolition fight | Woman wins homes demolition fight |
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A 59-year-old woman has won a legal challenge to a major urban regeneration programme involving the demolition of hundreds of houses. | A 59-year-old woman has won a legal challenge to a major urban regeneration programme involving the demolition of hundreds of houses. |
Mr Justice Forbes has overturned a compulsory purchase order which would have forced Elizabeth Pascoe to move from her Liverpool home. | Mr Justice Forbes has overturned a compulsory purchase order which would have forced Elizabeth Pascoe to move from her Liverpool home. |
The judge also ruled that Mrs Pascoe's right to private and family life had been violated by the order. | The judge also ruled that Mrs Pascoe's right to private and family life had been violated by the order. |
Liverpool Land Development Company said it was a disappointing ruling. | Liverpool Land Development Company said it was a disappointing ruling. |
It is bittersweet because much of my community has already been destroyed as a result of this initiative Elizabeth Pascoe | It is bittersweet because much of my community has already been destroyed as a result of this initiative Elizabeth Pascoe |
Mrs Pascoe's solicitor, Phil Shiner, said the judge had overturned the CPO and declared that English Partnerships, the acquiring authority, had acted outside its powers. | Mrs Pascoe's solicitor, Phil Shiner, said the judge had overturned the CPO and declared that English Partnerships, the acquiring authority, had acted outside its powers. |
Mrs Pascoe challenged the CPO granted to English Partnerships to buy and bulldoze 500 homes at Edge Lane West in Liverpool for a new road scheme into the city centre and new housing. | Mrs Pascoe challenged the CPO granted to English Partnerships to buy and bulldoze 500 homes at Edge Lane West in Liverpool for a new road scheme into the city centre and new housing. |
It was the first in a series of CPOs planned by the Urban Regeneration Agency for deprived inner city areas. | It was the first in a series of CPOs planned by the Urban Regeneration Agency for deprived inner city areas. |
'Social cleansing' | 'Social cleansing' |
Mr Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers, said: "This was a test case, which means that this victory will benefit people across the country who are affected by the Pathfinder scheme." | Mr Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers, said: "This was a test case, which means that this victory will benefit people across the country who are affected by the Pathfinder scheme." |
But Mrs Pascoe, who faced having to leave her Victorian terraced house in Adderley Street, had mixed feelings. | |
"This is a pyrrhic victory for me. It is bittersweet because much of my community has already been destroyed as a result of this initiative," she said. | "This is a pyrrhic victory for me. It is bittersweet because much of my community has already been destroyed as a result of this initiative," she said. |
"Many of my neighbours who had lived here happily for decades succumbed only recently to various pressures and left." | "Many of my neighbours who had lived here happily for decades succumbed only recently to various pressures and left." |
The Edge Lane scheme was described as "social cleansing" by Jane Kennedy, the local Labour MP, at the public inquiry that approved the plans. | The Edge Lane scheme was described as "social cleansing" by Jane Kennedy, the local Labour MP, at the public inquiry that approved the plans. |
Starr birthplace | Starr birthplace |
Mrs Pascoe's home was not due to be demolished under a Pathfinder Initiative - the Government's urban regeneration programme to replace housing - but residents who face losing their homes under the Pathfinder scheme welcomed the ruling. | Mrs Pascoe's home was not due to be demolished under a Pathfinder Initiative - the Government's urban regeneration programme to replace housing - but residents who face losing their homes under the Pathfinder scheme welcomed the ruling. |
Nina Edge, who is campaigning against plans to bulldoze hundreds of homes in the Welsh Streets area of Liverpool, including the birthplace of ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, hoped the decision would set a precedent. | Nina Edge, who is campaigning against plans to bulldoze hundreds of homes in the Welsh Streets area of Liverpool, including the birthplace of ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, hoped the decision would set a precedent. |
"The ruling on Edge Lane is unique and all the different threatened areas would be fought on slightly different grounds," she said. | "The ruling on Edge Lane is unique and all the different threatened areas would be fought on slightly different grounds," she said. |
"But the important thing is that the right of a person to live in their home has been made clear unless there is a really pressing infrastructure project." | "But the important thing is that the right of a person to live in their home has been made clear unless there is a really pressing infrastructure project." |
Liverpool Land Development Company said it was awaiting "a further decision from the court as to the precise form and effect of the order to be given by the judge". | Liverpool Land Development Company said it was awaiting "a further decision from the court as to the precise form and effect of the order to be given by the judge". |
Eliot Lewis-Ward, area director for English Partnerships, said: "It is disappointing that the challenge has been upheld on the basis of incorrect wording in the decision letter, but we are hopeful this can be resolved swiftly." | Eliot Lewis-Ward, area director for English Partnerships, said: "It is disappointing that the challenge has been upheld on the basis of incorrect wording in the decision letter, but we are hopeful this can be resolved swiftly." |