A 76-year-old farmer refuses to grant his land to a real estate developer who wants to build 2,150 new homes there since his land is right next to a new town they are planning to build. It is not the first time this has happened, since this man had to abandon two other homes before due to forced expropriation orders that also sought to free the land for the construction of new urban projects.
Alan French has been living on his farm in Godley, near Hyde, in Tameside (in the United Kingdom), for 17 years and declares that this time he is clear and “he will not move.” The land surrounding his farm, Far Meadow Farm, is being acquired for the construction of more than 2,000 new houses, something that does not scare him, according to the media. BBC.
He does not want to move “out of pure rebellion”
Apparently, the construction project that aims to ‘steal’ their land and to which they have already named, ‘Godley Green Garden Village’, will last 15 years. This project is endorsed by the leader of Tameside Council, who has already stated that it will “create a natural and representative community from the beginning”.
“Every time I move somewhere, the real estate developers want it,” says the indignant farmer.
“I’m 76 years old now and I think by the time things get going and they start building on the other end, I’ll probably be dead. But out of sheer rebellion, I won’t,” French declares.
He knows that the project will end rural life in the area, no matter how much they promise to “create a natural community,” which angers him even more and that is why he does not want to give in.
“This is no longer a rural place. The situation is going to get worse if they get their way.”
They have already issued forced expropriation orders but the farmers do not give up
The building permit was granted last month and eminent domain orders have been issued against French’s neighbors, most of whom disagree with the project.
Thousands of residents opposed the development by Tameside Council and the MADE partnership, a joint venture between Barratt Redrow PLC, Homes England and Lloyds Banking Group.
Council leader Eleanor Wills said the project “has been studied very carefully”.