A Wishaw man and his son have been the one folks dwelling in a ghost town-like avenue in Gowkthrapple since final yr.
Nick Wisniewski, 66, purchased his flat in Stanhope Place greater than six years in the past beneath the “Proper to Purchase” scheme.
He has been provided £35,000 for it by the council as they plan to flatten the place and redevelop the world.
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Introduced in in the course of the Thatcher-era in October 1980, the property buy initiative gave council tenants the suitable beneath legislation to buy their properties at a reduced value. It resulted in virtually 500,000 properties being purchased up, however solely a tiny proportion of that quantity had been changed by native authorities in Scotland leading to a disaster within the social-housing rental sector.
Nick retired final yr after working for greater than 20 years with TSB financial institution. He purchased the flat, he shares together with his 35-year-old son, earlier than the scheme resulted in Scotland. It gave him peace of thoughts that he wouldn’t have to fret about hire or mortgage funds, however he's now not sure what the long run holds for him.
“I’m in the one occupied home in the entire avenue and it’s been that manner for the reason that finish of December,” he stated.
“I purchased my flat as I didn’t wish to be paying hire for the remainder of my life. The council have provided me £35,000 however to purchase one other would price me something between £80,000 and £100,000 now. I’ve not heard from the council for 9 months and the cash they’re providing gained’t purchase something nowadays.”
North Lanarkshire Council did provide Nick different rented lodging however he turned it down.
He continued: “I went right down to the Civic Centre and so they confirmed me a two-bedroomed terraced home in Coltness and stated they’d give me two years hire free. I’m retired and haven’t paid hire or mortgage for years, why ought to I begin having to pay hire once more.
“The council stated they'll’t provide me a penny extra. They're speaking a couple of Obligatory Buy Order however that’s a final resort. They’ve solely spoken to me as soon as. In the event that they make me an honest provide then maybe we may use that and my son may get us a mortgage. I’m too previous for a mortgage now.”
Nick has raised considerations about normal upkeep within the space with grass badly overgrown in Stanhope Place.
He added: “The peak of the grass is ridiculous however on the different aspect of Gowkthrapple the blocks are all empty however they're nonetheless reducing it over there.
"I contacted my MSP’s workplace just a few weeks in the past who acquired on to the council and so they stated they had been going to chop it. I left it every week and nothing occurred so I phoned again and so they stated they'd modified their minds and weren’t reducing it. The council is a legislation unto themselves, they don’t care.
“There’s no safety and other people may get into the empty flats. There’s plenty of home windows been damaged. Finally they [council] began boarding the underside two ranges up. Fortunately I’ve by no means had any hassle but.”
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council stated: “We absolutely perceive it is a delicate challenge and are working intently with the resident.
"It will not be acceptable to debate the precise monetary particulars, however we're working in accordance with our insurance policies to make sure the resident receives a good deal and to assist him in order that he finds appropriate different lodging.”
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