Clearing Kirkholt flats to prepare for the future
16 April 2009
Contractors have moved in to demolish three blocks of flats on Queens Drive on Kirkholt, to create a site for new attractive modern homes. The Vision for Kirkholt project, which brings together the Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder, Rochdale Council and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, is funding the clearance of the site. Kirkholt resident Margaret Whalley said, “I have been living in the neighbourhood since about 1952 before all of Kirkholt was even built. I have seen so many changes on the road alone over the years and I’m keen to see the improvements happen that are planned for the future”. Welcoming the progress with demolition, Cllr. Doreen Brophy-Lee, Rochdale Council’s Cabinet member for Housing said, “This is an important milestone. We are getting ready to select our developer partner, and clearing sites to build new homes will put us in a strong position to make good progress.” Palmer Demolition is carrying out the work. They will be making efforts to minimise disruption to residents nearby. Temporary traffic restrictions and residents-only parking has been set up on Queens Drive to allow the demolition to go ahead safely. Tenants who used to live in these blocks have been re-housed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to their choice of new homes. Some of the former tenants decided to move nearby and are now living on other roads around Kirkholt. Some tenants took the opportunity to move near to family or friends in other parts of Rochdale. All tenants who have moved received a Home Loss Compensation package, and were helped and advised by staff with booking removals and making arrangements to live in their home.
