THE fight for blight home tenants to stay in Whitefield has been given a court date.

Some 15 out of 74 tenants who live in the houses affected by the scrapped M62 relief road have received a letter from the Highways Agency ordering them to appear in court on September 26 to hear their eviction notices.

The news has devastated tenants. Mrs Lynne Finney, who lives with her husband Terry in Hardmans Road, said: "I am mortified. We have lived here for two years and were hoping to be able to stay because we love the area and really don't want to go.

"We have looked after the house and always paid our rent on time. Hardmans Road is a quiet street with a friendly atmosphere where the tenants get on with owner occupiers. There is no reason why we should be thrown out."

Mrs Finney is also worried that her daughter, who is about start her GCSE year, would be unsettled by any move which could mean a change of school.

"It's all very upsetting and I feel helpless because it seems there is nothing we can do. We couldn't even get rehoused if we wanted to because the council can't do anything until we have been thrown out. "The majority of the tenants who come to the meetings want to stay in Whitefield and we are just hoping something happens to make that possible."

Bury Council leader Derek Boden will meet affected tenants. He said: "We do not support these evictions and don't want the tenants to face the disruption of moving and being forced onto our housing lists.

"The solution to the problem would be to sell off the houses to a reputable housing association. That would avoid the need for the tenants to be moved, stop empty houses being vandalised and give the Highways Agency a chance to get out of Whitefield without spending public money."

Bury South MP Ivan Lewis has written to transport minister Gavin Strang requesting an urgent meeting. He also favours selling the homes to a housing association

He said: "I don't want to see the tenants evicted. Most of the tenants left are good people who make a positive contribution to the community. I want to see those that have been good tenants stay where they are."

Mr Lewis is pursuing compensation claims on behalf of home-owners affected by the relief road scheme's blight on Whitefield.

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