On a seemingly normal street in St Helens, rows of empty houses lie empty and abandoned.
The three storey properties on Union Street are set to be demolished by the housing association Torus, after a vote was held with residents over the plans.
The properties form part of the Gerard's Bridge Estate, where Torus plans to demolish a total of 61 properties amid concerns about the "future sustainability" of the houses and " wider environmental issues."
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Most people have now been rehoused, but others remain in limbo as they try to find alternative accommodation or find out where they will be moved to.
The ECHO spoke to former and remaining residents on Union Street about the plans and how the street ended up this way.
"We were gobsmacked when we moved to the area"
A mum, who did not want to be named, is still waiting to be rehoused from her home on Union Street where she has lived for over seven years.
During that time, she said noise and anti-social behaviour has always been an issue, with people breaking into the empty houses, lighting fires, and drinking and fighting in the street.
Twenty four hour security now roam the estate to help prevent vandals from breaking into the houses which are boarded up.
She said: "We were gobsmacked when we moved to the area because we weren't used to that sort of behaviour.
"When we got this house [the houses] either side of us were empty and some others scattered around were empty. That was a strong indication once we noticed all the noise that that's why they were empty.
"In July 2019, [Torus] held a meeting in one of the empty houses there just for that one day for a few hours.
"They asked people to vote. They said most of them voted for the houses to come down but some of them that had lived there a while voted for them to stay up."
Torus said outcome of the consultation saw 78 per cent of respondents backing the demolition.
The mum said she initially voted against the plans on the grounds that the houses were "big family houses" and she didn't want the upheaval of having to move again.
But the family has now "come to terms" with the demolition, and are awaiting appropriate accommodation after being offered around £6,000 in compensation to move.
"When we moved in it was a nice, quiet street"
Khayrul Jaigirdar grew up on Union Street, where he lived in a three bedroom house with his family from the age of nine.
His mum and dad, who are now in their 70s and 80s, still live in the property, which they own - and they are trying to come to an agreement with the housing association Torus.
Khayrul said it "saddens" him to see the houses that were once filled with families on Union Street now standing empty and awaiting demolition.
Khayrul told the ECHO: "When we moved in it was a nice quiet street. The properties were full and myself and my brother used to go out and see our friends in the streets and play football.
"Most of the issues that have occurred happened over the last 10 years.
"As I was a kid growing up there, I know what issues have happened and over time it had gone worse. We've always been lucky that we've been at the end of the street so we haven't really dealt with anything.
"As far as I'm aware, crime just escalated over time at the top of the street - that's where you always used to see the police vans go up and community police officers used to knock on and speak to ourselves and other households and ask did we see anything.
"It was to do with drugs and anti-social behaviour."
Khayrul, who moved out of his parent's home seven years ago, said his parents have paid off the mortgage and would be unable to get another one due to their age.
Torus said it has made offers to purchase the property "that exceeded market valuations" but Khayrul said the price his parents have been offered is "very low" and would leave them struggling to find a similar house elsewhere.
He said: "My dad is panicking thinking 'they're taking my home away, they're taking my home away', which saddens me. He's at a certain stage of life that he's frail and my mum is worried but everyone has gone that we knew.
"There were a few households over the years that we were close to - they also said they don't want to move.
"The family that were opposite us didn't own their property, they said they didn't want to move at all but they were told they have to move. It's bitter sweet but they passed away and luckily they were still there at that house that they loved."
Khayrul added: "I know the way the world works, if you've got crime on a street the market value is going to go down.
"My parents don't want to move but they're waiting for them to give them a reasonable offer [on the house.]
"The price they've been offered is very low so they can't get anything appropriate."
What Torus had to say about the plans
A spokesperson for Torus said: "In 2019, in view of concerns about the future sustainability of the housing stock on this estate we conducted an options appraisal to consider the long-term future of these homes.
"This process confirmed that 61 properties on the Gerards Bridge Estate would not be suitable for remodelling to meet current and future needs, and that wider environmental issues associated with the site meant that demolition was the best way forward.
"The final decision to demolish was made following meaningful and extensive consultation with residents in July 2019, with 78% of respondents backing the move.
"Torus is working with the three remaining tenants who are awaiting rehousing, as well as two owner-occupiers, to identify alternative offers of accommodation to meet their housing needs. In the latter case, Torus has made offers to purchase that exceeded market valuations provided by a RICS surveying practice.
"Demolition is planned to begin once all service disconnections have been completed by the utility companies.
"In the meantime, members of Torus staff visit the site every day to record incidents of fly-tipping and arrange for its prompt removal. Works to close off all 10 blocks using Heras fencing will commence on Friday.
"Torus is committed to the regeneration of Union Street and the wider community but there is no agreed scheme for the redevelopment of this site at the present time."
What action Merseyside Police is taking
St Helens local policing Chief Inspector Paul Holden said: “We take the issue of antisocial behaviour very seriously and have a number of tools at our disposal to deal with issues in our local communities such as dispersal zones or diversionary activities.
“We have received some reports of ASB around the Lowe Street area and general ASB around St Helens town centre involving large groups of youths and as a result we will be deploying more resources to that area.
“We will also continue to work with our local authority and housing association partners to tackle the issue in this area and the whole of St Helens as we know the impact this type of behaviour can have on people’s lives and wellbeing.
“I would encourage anyone who witnesses antisocial behaviour or knows who is responsible to contact us either via DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 so we can take action.”
