Please note, this is an archived story. Please check the date above.

Owner occupiers and landlords opposed to wholesale clearance in the Winford Street area of Moston have written to Manchester City Council over the slum clearance which will see 59 private homes bulldozed at a cost of ?1,283,000.

The area covers mainly pre 1919 terraced properties in Winford Street, Princedom Street, Simister Street, Elsie Street and Sequoia Street off Ashley lane on the access route to the Moston campus of MANCAT.

The neighbourhood has been falling into decline since the mid 90s resulting in high vacancy levels which have led to dereliction. Of the 59 dwellings, 37 have been deemed unfit for human habitation, 22 are fit and 35 are vacant.

Remaining residents are worried they will be left with mortgages on homes that no longer exist and will be unable to obtain loans for new homes after spending hard earned cash maintaining their properties.

One resident, a single mum with four children who bought her home as a newly-qualified nurse 19 years ago, was furious at the prospect of being means tested to establish her right to compensation.

She said: "Taking up this opportunity enabled me to pay my own way through university and to provide for my children a good basic standard of living without poverty or the need to claim any benefits.

"Buying this property with an endowment mortgage meant the property would be fully paid for by the year 2008, plus I would have [money] to invest in my pension fund. What my family and I would appreciate is some honest compensation."

Another resident, who claims to have replaced windows, installed new heating, replaced roofing, gutters and flags, carried out rewiring and insulation and internal decoration, complains that responsible home owners are being made scapegoats.

He said: "I agree that some houses in the area are a cause for concern but I have occupied the premises for 16 years and kept it in good condition. Any properties still occupied and maintained should be well compensated as they would become innocent victims of rogue landlords."

Objections have also been raised by landlords who deny they have contributed to the area's decline but the proposed demolition is supported by housing associations which own properties in the area.

Council officials will be carrying out valuations in the next few weeks when owners will be asked to sell their properties to Manchester City Council. Compulsory purchase orders will be issued to owners who refuse to accept the offer price.