Living in fear

The backyard, used as a dumping ground and attracting vermin

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‘We have been left in a ghost town’
A FAMILY whose home is surrounded by derelict properties in Derker is living in fear of arsonists and vandals.

Robert Weiss has witnessed three fires in houses near his home in Marble Street in only three months.

He and his wife, Claire, and their two teenage children are also living within yards of a back yard which is attracting rats to the area by being used as a rubbish dump for food and clothes.

The Housing Market Renewal work, to demolish and rebuild homes in the Derker area, was halted at the end of March, among swingeing cuts announced by the coalition Government.

Virtually all the terrace houses on one side of Marble Street are empty and waiting to be demolished, and Mr Weiss and his neighbours, who live on the opposite side, received letters from the council saying no more work would be done.

“It didn’t say anything about the empty properties, and we just want to know what is happening,” he explained.

“For all we know, they are structurally unsound following the fires, they could collapse, and then someone will really get hurt.

“We have been left in the middle of a ghost town, the place is an eyesore. We used to have a community but that has been decimated,” said Mr Weiss (52).

“I know the council has had money taken away from it, but I was at that first meeting when we were promised all sorts.

“We were told houses with gardens would be built, people were forced out of their homes, and now I feel badly let down, no-one seems to care.”

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for regeneration and environment, assured residents tha Oldham Council was acting as quickly as it could.

He said matters were delayed last month when Bellway Homes pulled out of a scheme to build 148 houses in the area at the last minute.

But the council was trying to speed up demolition work, which should be complete by the autumn.

He added that the main sticking point now involved individual houses still occupied in rows of empty properties, but if agreements could not be reached quickly, empty properties would be demolished around them and they would be left standing.

“My ambition is to get nearly all the tinned-up houses both in Marble Street and the rest of the area demolished, it’s just not acceptable for people living there who have had to put up with too much for too long,” said Councillor McCann.

Elaine McLean, Executive Director for Economy, Place and Skills, added: “Oldham Council is well aware of the issues of anti-social behaviour in this area and is working closely with Greater Manchester Police.

“The future management of the terraces like this which are causing problems to the remaining residents will be discussed by Cabinet at its next meeting on Wednesday, 27 April.”