A MAN living in a street that is being demolished has failed in his latest bid to stop the bulldozers.
Daniel Hillary is refusing to leave his home in Highfield Road, Infirmary, Blackburn, which is part of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme.
Last week the 30-year-old took Blackburn with Darwen Council to court in an attempt to get an injunction to stop the work – but his case was rejected.
He claimed the correct procedures had not been followed, and an investigation by the Local Government Ombudsman is ongoing.
Sayyed Osman, the council’s director of housing and neighbourhoods, said Mr Hillary was seeking a judicial review of the council’s decision to declare the Alaska Street area for clearance. He had also claimed demolition work should be stopped.
Mr Osman added: “On both claims the council’s decision and right to demolish empty properties in its ownership was upheld by the High Court.”
The stand-off was sparked after it was revealed in 2005 that council officers had ‘altered’ independent surveys on the houses so the properties were labelled unfit to live in.
Mr Hillary complained to Local Government Ombudsman Anne Seex, claiming the council had not used the correct procedure before deciding to clear the area.
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