Government Regeneration isn’t Working for Communities and Individuals

A High Court judge earlier this week ruled that a compulsory purchase order issued by Ministers to English Partnerships, the Government’s National Regeneration Agency, breached the human rights of Elizabeth Pascoe, who faced being moved out of her home in Liverpool’s Edge Lane West area so that new housing and roads leading to the city centre could be constructed. Mrs Pascoe had set up a campaign group called “Better Environmental Vision for Edge Lane”, and this week’s ruling puts on hold the demolition of 500 homes. The demolition programme forms part of the Government’s controversial Pathfinder house building initiative, and regeneration schemes affecting 30 towns and cities, and covering 700 000 homes and 2.5 million people, may be affected by the outcome of yesterday’s judgement. According to human rights lawyers, the ruling could freeze plans to bulldoze thousands of homes across the Midlands and the North of England under the Pathfinder Scheme.

Elizabeth Pascoe said she and her neighbours wanted to keep their homes, but also see the Edge Lane area of Liverpool “truly regenerated”. However, whilst there is now “great relief” amongst residents of the area, Mrs Pascoe said she was “nervous about the longer term effects (of the High Court judgement). They (regeneration agencies) could just leave us to rot”. This concern may also be shared by communities in the other Pathfinder areas.

(Above information obtained from Metro newspaper 28.9.2006)

In a separate development, a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published last week found that the Pathfinder Scheme undercompensated homeowners whose properties were due to be demolished, making it difficult for them to purchase another house.