Residents Praise Demolition Plans

PROPOSALS to transform two Middlesbrough landscapes and improve the lives of communities have been applauded by fed-up residents.

People living in Grove Hill and Pallister Park have welcomed plans by Erimus Housing to demolish four run-down blocks of flats plagued by crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

The move follows calls from residents for action to be taken over the empty flats on Daleville Close and Keithwood Close in Grove Hill and Cottingham Drive and Fransham Road in Pallister Park.

The housing association has now applied to Middlesbrough Council’s planning committee for permission to knock down the properties.

If the organisation is given the green light, work will kick off late next month (May) with full safety and security measures in place, before the areas are grassed over.

Chris Smith, Director of Regeneration for Erimus Housing, said: "The residents told us that these were a problem, affecting people’s quality of life and they wanted to do something about them.

"So we decided to take some early action on a scheme that would be a positive step for residents and help improve their communities."

The buildings, which contain a total of 40 one-bedroom flats, have had a high turnover and have proved difficult to let, with a lack of demand from the housing waiting list.

Residents have already praised the plans to demolish the properties.

Ray Woodger, a resident of the Cottingham Drive, said: "I will be really glad to see the flats come down. People have wanted this for a long time.

"It will make a very big difference to the people of Pallister Park."