Gone In 15 Minutes

In the movie "Gone in 60 seconds" Nicholas Cage was challenged to steal a series of high speed sports cars to order to save his brother. According to a local Stoke on Trent resident this challenge has re-emerged under a different guise for pathfinder councils.

It seems that a council surveyor can declare your home unihabitable in just 15 minutes. It seems that speed is of the essence under pathfinder but it seems as credible as that other government claim that Saddam Hussein could launch a nuclear missile in 45 minutes. However in the case of pathfinder householders Brian Clancy, past President of the Royal Institute of Structured Engineers, examined 17 homes in Stoke on Trent that had all been condemned in 15 minutes. Clancy's view was that all the homes were structurally sound but 10 could do with £5,000 modernisation work. One house, worth £60,000, could do with £10,000 spending on it.

Two Public Enquiries have now found against Pendle council for a similar trick in their area. The enquiry ordered Pendle to improve homes rather than demolish them. Meanwhile the council has engaged in another round of consulations as the area declines under the continuing threat of demolition.

Gateshead Council seems to be pulling the same stunt. With no evidence of unfit property in Saltwell and Bensham councillors are claiming that costs of up to £70,000 need to be spent on every home to get it up to standard. They claim that homes have been surveyed but few residents have seen anything except a few men with clipboards.

Meanwhile the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister claims vigorously that pathfinder is about renovation not demolition while at the same time local authorities are trying every trick in the book to increase the volume of demolitions.

Link: Article from Stoke on Trent