Anchorsholme Lidl's property demolition plans refused - but eviction still looms for tenants

Plans by Lidl to knock down houses for a car park extension in Anchorsholme were thrown out by council planners this week, but one tenant is still set to lose his home.
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Lidl had applied to Blackpool Council for permission to bulldoze two detached properties so it could add 17 extra parking spaces to its store in Anchorsholme.

But the application was thrown out amid fears the scheme would damage the character of the area, while not enough evidence was put forward to prove the existing 81 spaces were insufficient to meet demand.

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Lidl was also criticised by planners for previously demolishing properties next to its Bloomfield Road store in South Shore, while failing to develop the land and leaving it an eyesore.

Two on houses on Cherrywood Avenue and Anchorsholme Lane West were set for demolition by owners Lidl, but council planners threw out the plans. Despite this, one of the tenants confirmed he is still being evicted.Two on houses on Cherrywood Avenue and Anchorsholme Lane West were set for demolition by owners Lidl, but council planners threw out the plans. Despite this, one of the tenants confirmed he is still being evicted.
Two on houses on Cherrywood Avenue and Anchorsholme Lane West were set for demolition by owners Lidl, but council planners threw out the plans. Despite this, one of the tenants confirmed he is still being evicted.

The retailer had sought permission to knock down houses at two Cherrywood Avenue and six Anchorsholme Lane West, both of which are owned by the supermarket and occupied by tenants.

Andy Jones, 49, the tenant living at two Cherrywood Avenue, received an eviction notice giving him until April 2021 to find a new property when the demolition plans were lodged.

But despite the council's refusal to allow the plans, Mr Jones said the eviction notice he received last month still stands.

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He said: "Our letting agent didn't even know the plans had been refused. We still have this eviction notice and it looks like we will still be made homeless.

"It's so hard to find another property, I haven't found anywhere I could move to yet. Covid has made it really difficult to find anywhere else."

Mr Jones lives with his son, 12-year-old Kian, and had moved to Anchorsholme 18 months ago from Wigan to live closer to the sea for his health.

He suffers with COPD and a heart condition, for which he is due an operation in December.

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Andy is now concerned that due to a lack of available properties for him to rent while he is in ill-health and unable to work, he will be left homeless while he recovers from his heart procedure.

Following the decision to refuse demolition plans, Mr Jones was left a message by letting agents McDonald's Property Rentals on Brighton Avenue in Cleveleys, which has been heard by The Gazette, confirming he would still have to move out by April 2021.

Lidl was also contacted for a comment about the pending eviction.