Chinese raze last home in road’s path

Published on 02/12/2012 00:00

AUTHORITIES have demolished a five-storey home that stood in the middle of a new main road and had become the latest symbol of resistance by Chinese homeowners against officials accused of offering unfair compensation.

Xiayangzhang village chief Chen Xuecai said the house was bulldozed yesterday after its owners, duck farmer Luo Baogen and his wife, agreed to compensation of 260,000 yuan (£27,000). The couple had been the only residents holding out in a neighbourhood that was demolished to make way for the main thoroughfare heading to a newrailway station on the outskirts of Wenling.

The razing comes a week ­after images of the house circulated online in China, triggering a flurry of media reports about the latest “nail house,” as buildings that remain standing as their owners resist ­development are called.

Chen said Luo, 67, had grown tired of all the media attention and had voluntarily consented to the deal.