Residents evicted for road scheme

Most of the residents living near the road have been evicted

Residents living in the path of a proposed road are being evicted despite the fact the results of a public inquiry have not been released.

Councillors in Flintshire are discussing the preferred route for the controversial widening of the A494 at Queensferry.

Most of the Welsh Assembly Government tenants living near the road have been re-housed.

But those remaining have said they are struggling to find new accommodation.

The public inquiry into the scheme was led by an independent inspector in September. The findings are expected to be revealed early in 2008.

So far, 27 of the 30 tenants from Aston Mead and Hillfield Road, alongside the A494 at Aston, have left their homes.

I have got a week to go in this property and I have absolutely nowhere to go Brenda Constantine

The homes were bought by the Welsh Assembly Government under a compulsory purchase scheme when plans for the road-widening scheme were announced.

The assembly government said it was helping tenants find new homes.

Families had priority in getting alternative accommodation through the local authority, but three single people still remain in their homes.

Brenda Constantine, 54, who has received an eviction notice to leave by the end of the month, said she had nowhere to go.

She said she has no family in the area, no savings and is struggling to find accommodation which allows pets.

Around 150 people joined a protest against the plans in January

"I'm on anti-depressants and it's making it worse," she added.

"I have got a week to go in this property and I have absolutely nowhere to go."

Another tenant, Phil Jones, who lives in Aston Mead amidst boarded up properties, said he intended to stay and would let the Welsh Assembly Government take him to court unless he is offered suitable accommodation.

He added: "The road actually hasn't been given the official go-ahead yet so to me they're actually pre-empting the decision."

The tenants have been backed by north Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood.

Congestion

Mr Isherwood said Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones had the power to reject any recommendations made by the inspector, adding: "And a cynic might ask whether he has already made his mind up."

The Welsh Assembly Government said it worked with the council and tenants to try to secure alternative accommodation for them, and was continuing to working closely with the remaining three tenants.

The A494 links the A55 with the north-west of England, bypassing places like Ewloe, Aston and Queensferry.

The assembly government said congestion was already an issue along the route, and would increase without the road-widening.