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Winston Road/Hodge Street

Last March housing chiefs agreed the best option to deal with poor housing and environmental conditions in 55 to 89 Winston Road and 34 to 42 Hodge Street was to demolish all properties.

In July demolition notices went out to owners and tenants of unfit houses and notices were published and fixed to vacant and boarded up premises resulting in only one objection.

There are 22 properties in the two streets and of the 16 to be cleared, 15 are vacant and the remaining resident is eager to leave. Compulsory purchase orders will be made on houses within the block still fit for habitation to allow the whole area to be cleared.

Clearance and demolition costs are expected to be around ?644,000 but there will be further costs involved in compulsory purchase and housing chiefs say full costs may have to be met in 2000/2001.

Eamonn Boylan, Manchester's housing director, is confident there will be little resistance to the scheme and those needing new homes will be found accommodation with ease.

He said: "Every effort will be made in re-housing displaced residents to preserve family ties and meet residents' wishes and aspirations. For those who wish to remain in the locality, suitable alternative accommodation is readily available for rent and purchase.

"It is intended to encourage and assist any of the few established owner occupiers who wish to remain in the locality to acquire nearby houses. This should be achievable by reinvestment of compensation, assisted by discretionary renovation grant as appropriate.

"Conditions in the proposed areas are deteriorating daily and it is essential action is taken as speedily as possible to deal with the needs of existing residents and to keep the properties as secure as possible until acquisition can be completed and the properties demolished."