Families fear losing homes as football club plans to buy them to expand stadium

Damien and Joanne Dinsmore are worried sick about the possibility of moving home (Picture: SWNS)

Dozens of families in Blackpool could be facing homelessness just before Christmas after a football club revealed it plans to buy out an entire street to make way for a new stand.

Blackpool Football Club plans to buy an astounding 182 properties on Henry Street in for its Bloomfield Road stadium, and hopes home owners will sell – with town hall bosses planning to issue ‘compulsory purchase orders’ if they refuse.

The row of Victorian terraced properties house dozens of families, who are being offered £90,000 per home and £130,000 for a car garage business.

Joanne and Damien Dinsmore are fearful they may be forced into a compulsory order unless they sell their home – for less than market value.

The couple said a person who came to value their property suggested putting Joanne’s elderly dad ‘into a care home’.

Joanne said: ‘We have built an annexe for our dad to live in, so we can continue to care for him as he is sick.

‘We will never find another suitable home as we’re looking at around £170,000. They have offered us £82,000.’

182 properties may be sold for less than market value – leaving homeowners stressed (Picture: SWNS)

The mum-of-three also claims she ‘wasn’t told’ anything about the football club’s plans at the start and that her son found out about it through rumours at school.

Now, Joanne and her husband may have to take out a second mortgage to afford a home for her family and ailing father – and postpone her retirement from the NHS.

Damien said the football company is acting out of ‘pure greed’ and has treated the locals with ‘no compassion’.

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Another mum who has rented a house on Henry Street for nearly two decades is ‘terrified’ of becoming homeless, and worries for her son with learning difficulties.

Danielle Caton, 39, said: ‘My youngest son has learning difficulties so it will mean a massive upheaval for him. I’m worried sick.’

‘I have put down for a council house but they don’t see us as a priority while we are still living here.’

A council spokesperson has said no residents will be asked to move without ‘reasonable warning’ and advice is being provided to residents.

Mum Danielle Caton has been in her home on Henry Street for nearly 20 years (Picture: SWNS)

The council has said that the new sports village will ‘regenerate the area’ and they are ‘liasing with property owners on Henry Street’.

A spokesperson said: ‘We would only explore other options if we cannot buy the houses within a reasonable timescale.

‘Some owners have chosen to sell already, and advice is available for residents or tenants who need additional support.

‘Nobody will be asked to move out without reasonable warning and it is not our intention for that to happen before Christmas.

‘We are very aware that we are buying people’s homes and have written to all residents to offer advice and support, to make sure that nobody is made homeless by the scheme.’

Blackpool FC have been contacted for comment.

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