Woodside update

Only ten homes remain occupied on Woodside now, the Housing Office told the Messenger, with seven families waiting for their new homes to be made ready for their move.

There’s been little demolition in recent weeks, as in-depth surveys had to be carried out to establish where asbestos might be in the condemned buildings.

With the survey complete demolition will continue in earnest with two contractors getting their teeth into the site. The Housing Office is confident the demolition will be completed on time, at the end of March 2004.

The New Deal money pledged to the Council to speed up the process has still not been handed over as we go to press. The contract for £900,000 worth of Woodside is unsigned, as New Deal negotiate for the best deal.

The money will buy a percentage of the land, how big that is will depend on the value of the land. The valuation is still to be completed, but we expect to hear about it soon.