Glasgow grandmother evicted after six-day stand-off

Published on Thursday 24 March 2011 10:29

A GRANDMOTHER who refused to leave her Glasgow home ahead of its planned demolition has been evicted after a six-day stand-off with the council.

Margaret Jaconelli's flat is on the site of the proposed athletes' village for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the city.

The 52-year-old and her husband Jack were ordered to leave on Friday following a court ruling but remained in the property on Ardenlea Street in Dalmarnock.

Glasgow City Council said the couple were evicted in an operation which began at around 5am today.

A spokesman said: "We are pleased the eviction has been completed".

The removal brings to an end their long-running legal battle with council bosses, who were granted a compulsory purchase order for the two-bedroom flat where the couple lived for more than three decades.

They were to be removed last Thursday but were given a reprieve as lawyers continued to argue the case at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Lord Uist chose not to overturn the Sheriff's eviction ruling however, and attempts to evict the pair began on Friday.

They were the last residents on the street, which is surrounded by a building site.

All the other residents were re-housed, but as an owner-occupier Mrs Jaconelli claimed the 90,000 compensation she was offered was not enough to cover a move which would allow her and husband to pay their costs and live mortgage-free as they do now.

Speaking on Friday, Mrs Jaconelli said: "It's been my home for 35 years and it's just the idea that the council can come in and take the property off you and expect you to go.

"I just don't think that's right.

"I will wait in the house till they come and put me out because I think Glasgow City Council should be shamed."

A council spokesman said: "The council has been negotiating with Mrs Jaconelli since 2007 over mutually agreeable compensation terms and a new home for the family.

"This included offers of housing in a variety of tenures - from rental to shared-ownership and outright-ownership."

He added: "Throughout the process, we have tried to engage with Mrs Jaconelli as much as possible and continued offers of discussion throughout.

"An offer of new housing is still available to Mrs Jaconelli".