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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ellie Forbes & Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Only resident left on 'lonely' estate of 128 flats facing demolition REFUSES to leave

The last person living on 'Britain's loneliest street' is standing his ground and refuses to leave his home despite now having no neighbours.

Retired banker Nick Wisniewski, 66, is living alone beside 128 flats after the last of around 200 residents moved out in December.

Stanhope Place in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, is all due to be knocked down - but he's refusing to move with the bulldozers at the ready.

The eight blocks of flats and other homes on the street are all scheduled for demolition but the man is staying put, despite the council's attempts to buy him out.

Mr Wisniewski says officials have offered him £35,000 plus two years' rent somewhere else if he moves but he says the offer would not be enough to buy somewhere else.

He has no neighbours living beside him after the last of around 200 residents moved out in December (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)

The area made up of eight blocks used to be buzzing with 200 people, but it now lies abandoned and overgrown with empty properties boarded up.

Retired TSB bank worker Nick said he is not in a position to buy anywhere else and is too old to get a mortgage.

Nick said: “The last person left in December, it’s like a ghost town now.

"It’s so quiet and strange being the only person living here.

The 66-year-old says the council's offer to sell is just not enough (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)

“I’m used to it now, but it can get lonely, there is no one to speak to.

“There are eight blocks each with 16 flats in them - there used to roughly be 200 people here and you would struggle to get a parking space.

“Now I am the only one left.”

Nick bought his flat in 2017 under the Right to Buy scheme which helped council tenants buy their homes at a discounted price.

The bulldozers are ready to move in - but there's one problem (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)

Council chiefs offered Nick alternative accommodation in a terraced house for two years rent free which he turned down.

He said he is worried he doesn’t know where he will end up living – but doesn’t want to leave his home.

Nick, who retired last year, said: “When people left they just dumped old cookers, mattresses, washing machine outside, it was a mess.

“The council just left the flats lying empty after people moved out.

He says he will hold his ground and not be pushed out (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)

“There is no security and people could get into the empty flats and lots of windows have been broken. Thankfully I haven’t had any trouble.

“The grass is badly overgrown, it’s ridiculous. I think the council are leaving it unkept to annoy me or in the hope I get fed up and leave.

“They offered me £35,000 for my flat and two years' rent free somewhere else. But I am not prepared to start paying rent again and £35,000 is not enough to buy somewhere new.

All but one of the houses are boarded up (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)

“You’re talking £80,000 to £100,000 to get somewhere new. I’m worried that I don’t know where I am going to end up living.

“I didn’t work all my life to have my home taken from me when I am too old to get a mortgage on something else. It would be so hard to leave my home."

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “We fully understand this is a sensitive issue and are working closely with the resident.

"It would not be appropriate to discuss the specific financial details, but we are working in accordance with our policies to ensure the resident receives a fair deal and to support him so that he finds suitable alternative accommodation.”

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