Evicted gran goes back to see flat pulled down
Evicted gran returns to see her flat being pulled down
5 May 2011
Commonwealth Games site battler Margaret Jaconelli returned to her old home in Glasgow’s East End … to watch it being demolished.
Glasgow City Council carried out its promise to pull down the sandstone built flats in Ardenlea Street, Dalmarnock to make way for a service area for the 2014 sporting extravaganza.
There was no sign of the heavy security or the 100 police officers who helped evict Margaret and her family 42 days ago following a legal battle in which the family refused to move from the site which will be next to the Athletes’ Village.
Margaret, husband Jack and members of her family turned up for a final farewell to their home of 35 years.
Margaret, 53 said: “I am homeless and penniless thanks to a hard-hearted local authority.
“They said they would paying me £90,000 for my property though I’ve not had so much as a letter from the council.
“All I’m walking away with today is memories.”
She criticised Glasgow City Council for refusing to accept a mediation proposal put forward by the SNP government in Holyrood.
The Jaconellis and their four sons, daughter-in-law and grandson Luca, eight months, spent around 30 minutes in the street during a workman’s tea-break.
Then, after one final look back, they walked out of Ardenlea Street for the last time.
The doomed sandstone tenement still had the message written on the front: ‘Davina – We’re No Being Evicted’. It was the only remaining sign of the family’s sit-in campaign.
The wrecking crew then moved in to turn the building into rubble.
It was the only home Margaret’s son Aaron, 17, had known and he said: “I can remember happy days here, playing in the street.
“Now it’s all gone, I’m gutted.”
A council spokesman said: “The demolition will allow construction work on the Athletes’ Village to begin.” [Well, that's alright then. There will be absolutely NO benefit for the residents of Glasgow, but hey - someone will be making some quick money...]