Middlesbrough Council - News Forum - Setting a light to the News

Teesside big achievers Tees Valley Unlimited
demolish demolish demolish despite latest round of Government Funding was intended
to tidy up not demolish housing - don't these Hitlers love playing with money YOUR MONEY
This Stockton family should go talk with residents at Middlesbrough’s West Lane
threatened by WMNT & Middlesbrough Council with CPO fought and won substantial payouts

Tees Valley Unlimited
Bid to the Government For
Housing Market Transitional Funding
Alison Thain OBE
Board member of Tees Valley Unlimited
and Chief Executive Fabrick Housing Group
Bid to the Government For Housing Market Transitional Funding
Read more http://middlesbrough-council.com/forum/ ... =534#p4299

Stockton family refusing to move out of home set for demolition
Mike Blackburn, Evening Gazette Feb 4 2012



A FAMILY living in a ghost town of boarded up properties earmarked for demolition is refusing to move until they get “a fair price” for their home.
The Coopers’ house is one of 72 properties due to be bulldozed as part of the ongoing regeneration of Stockton’s Parkfield and Mill Lane estate.
The family, which has lived there for 25 years, says the £55,000 offered for the house by Stockton Council is less than its true market value.
But the authority insists it is following legal guidelines and IS basing its offers on the market value of properties in the area.
The Coopers’ three-bedroom terrace is surrounded by empty and shuttered houses - some of which have already become targets for vandals and arsonists.
Dad Stephen, 52 - who lives with his wife Dawn, 49, sons David, 23, and Aaron, 10, daughter Sarah, 19, and at weekends granddaughter Lacey, four - said the street is also plagued by squatters.
“We have heard noises next door,” he said. “If they set it alight we’re dead.”
For eight months the family has also gone without hot water after an ageing boiler broke.
Stephen said: “What’s the point of paying £2,000 to get a new boiler if I’m going to be moving out? We’re just living in limbo.”
The dad is registered disabled and fears if the demolition starts before they move out he would lose vehicle access to his home which “would most definitely be detrimental to my health”.
With their mortgage due to be paid off this month the Coopers want to relocate to Roseworth, but say they will need £100,000 to buy a big enough house.
Even with a £25,000 bridging loan from the council Stephen says they will still be at least £10,000 short if they accept the authority’s offer on their house.
Stephen believes the £55,000 valuation is due to the fact their house is now stuck in the middle of a regeneration area.
But a council spokesperson said: “By law, we must follow the Compulsory Purchase Code and therefore base our offers on the market value of a property ignoring any effects of the council’s regeneration scheme.
“We have written to Mr Cooper to make it clear the condition of neighbouring buildings in this case does not affect the amount of our offer to him.
“By their very nature, property values in regeneration areas tend to be low, and, because of this we can offer a loan of up to £25,000 to help bridge the gap to help owners buy another home elsewhere - subject to certain conditions.
“Owner occupiers, such as Mr Cooper, are also entitled to a Homeloss Payment of 10% of the value of the home and a Disturbance Payment. The vendor may also reclaim the cost of their reasonable legal fees/surveyors fees.”
More than 200 properties have been demolished and 80 new homes built as part of the 15 to 20-year plan to turn Parkfield Mill Lane into a thriving residential neighbourhood.
Stockton Council has so far “negotiated successfully” with 246 of the 263 houseowners in the regeneration area, which includes Buchanan Street, St Bernard Road, Tarring Street and Dovecot Street.
The spokesperson added: “We are close to concluding matters with several more and still hope to reach agreement with the small remaining number - 12 - one of which is Mr Cooper.”
The planning application for Phase Two of the demolition will be heard in the coming weeks.
Stephen has launched an official objection and is currently seeking legal advice.
Read More http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... -30262186/

banjo
12:22 PM on 4/2/2012
the councils on teesside create havoc by demolishing houses and people do not wish to pay off their mortgage then take out further loans simply because of bad planning by councils. i believe that good houses have been knocked down because estates are overrun with bad tenants as the councils do not know how to deal with the situation. this is a merry -go -round of disaster
Read More http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... -30262186/

FedUPstocktoner
2:08 PM on 4/2/2012
I know Steve & I am glad he has the guts to stand up to SBC bullying tactics I also Lost my home & lost MONEY I too was a resident we were 1 month short of 25 yrs living in our home ( & completion of the mortgage) looking forward to a easier life a little more money to enjoy life but now because average street properties in the area are around £80K _90K One has to take " the money which IS less than market value, the small sum offered and also the 25K ( which you then have to use at least 4,500) of the money your given to qualify for the 25K which you have to get a mortgage on top so from us owing our then house out right we now own the new home 49% the other half is split 60/40 with SBC & a New 20 year mortgage! something we did Not want to be doing.
also because I am further away from my place of work/ town etc i now have the added costs of transport to my place of work instead of the walking distance ok but these things are not even considered when the "council move in" We would have stood and fought but were petrified to be the last standing
These houses WERE nice & this Neighbourhood WAS nice A proper community until they came cut it in half ( added a drug clinic at the top of the street ) then left us in limbo with the will they wont they come for the rest for 6+ years!!no one dared spend money when there was such uncertainty

I feel sooooooooo sorry for half streets that are to be left because theyre Not doing anymore
Years back when they originally showed us the plans they told us this is how it will look & have developers ready to build new straight away. yet now the remaining residents have been told there is No plans to build for the foreseeable future ( until a developer comes forward)
Its ok to stay but then the council can basically compulsory purchase your home legally offer what they like! You never win if a council decide they want your property
they should have left us alone in the beginning!!!!
incidentally not all disabilities are confined to the legs!!
Read More http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... -30262186/