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Woman wins homes demolition fight Woman wins homes demolition fight
(30 minutes later)
A 59-year-old woman has won a legal challenge to a major urban regeneration programme involving the demolition of hundreds of houses.A 59-year-old woman has won a legal challenge to a major urban regeneration programme involving the demolition of hundreds of houses.
Mr Justice Forbes has overturned a compulsory purchase order which would have forced Elizabeth Pascoe to move from her Liverpool home.Mr Justice Forbes has overturned a compulsory purchase order which would have forced Elizabeth Pascoe to move from her Liverpool home.
The demolition is part of the government's Pathfinder initiative.The demolition is part of the government's Pathfinder initiative.
The judge also ruled that Mrs Pascoe's right to private and family life had been violated by the order.The judge also ruled that Mrs Pascoe's right to private and family life had been violated by the order.
It is bittersweet because much of my community has already been destroyed as a result of this initiative Elizabeth PascoeIt is bittersweet because much of my community has already been destroyed as a result of this initiative Elizabeth Pascoe
Mrs Pascoe's solicitor, Phil Shiner, said the judge had overturned the CPO and declared that English Partnerships, the acquiring authority, had acted outside its powers.Mrs Pascoe's solicitor, Phil Shiner, said the judge had overturned the CPO and declared that English Partnerships, the acquiring authority, had acted outside its powers.
Mrs Pascoe challenged the CPO granted to English Partnerships to buy and bulldoze 500 homes at Edge Lane West in Liverpool for a new road scheme into the city centre and new housing.Mrs Pascoe challenged the CPO granted to English Partnerships to buy and bulldoze 500 homes at Edge Lane West in Liverpool for a new road scheme into the city centre and new housing.
It was the first in a series of CPOs planned by the Urban Regeneration Agency for deprived inner city areas.It was the first in a series of CPOs planned by the Urban Regeneration Agency for deprived inner city areas.
'Social cleansing''Social cleansing'
Mr Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers, said: "This was a test case, which means that this victory will benefit people across the country who are affected by the Pathfinder scheme."Mr Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers, said: "This was a test case, which means that this victory will benefit people across the country who are affected by the Pathfinder scheme."
But Mrs Pascoe, who faced having to leave her Victorian terraced house, had mixed feelings.But Mrs Pascoe, who faced having to leave her Victorian terraced house, had mixed feelings.
"This is a pyrrhic victory for me. It is bittersweet because much of my community has already been destroyed as a result of this initiative," she said."This is a pyrrhic victory for me. It is bittersweet because much of my community has already been destroyed as a result of this initiative," she said.
"Many of my neighbours who had lived here happily for decades succumbed only recently to various pressures and left.""Many of my neighbours who had lived here happily for decades succumbed only recently to various pressures and left."
The Edge Lane scheme was described as "social cleansing" by Jane Kennedy, the local Labour MP, at the public inquiry that approved the plans.The Edge Lane scheme was described as "social cleansing" by Jane Kennedy, the local Labour MP, at the public inquiry that approved the plans.
Welsh streets
Other residents who face losing their homes under the Pathfinder scheme welcomed the ruling.
Nina Edge, who campaigns against plans to bulldoze hundreds of homes in the Welsh Streets area of Liverpool, including the birthplace of ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, hoped the decision would set a precedent.
"The ruling on Edge Lane is unique and all the different threatened areas would be fought on slightly different grounds," she said.
"But the important thing is that the right of a person to live in their home has been made clear unless there is a really pressing infrastructure project."