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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Joseph Connolly & Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Man refuses to move out of home of 45 years as industrial estate built around him

A man who made developers build a huge industrial estate around his home of 45 years is vowing to stay put.

Peter Ambler has lived on the private road in Spondon, Derbyshire, since the 1970s - and says he won't be forced out.

The last remaining resident says he is more than happy to live on Britain's "loneliest street" but nearly paid the price on Monday.

Even though he's now a "prisoner" in his own home, he prefers that to giving in, he told DerbyshireLive.

Although his health has been threatened by the situation, he still says leaving still holds no interest to him and vowed to stay forever.

He is the last resident left - and is happy to not have neighbours ever again (Derby Telegraph/BPM Media)

An ambulance was called to Peter's home on Monday, but it was blocked by a new metal fence and his hospital dash was delayed.

He said: "It's wrong. You could be dead by then. You're like a prisoner in your own property. And they do not listen."

Peter fell after experiencing a sudden chest pain, catching his ribcage off a table on the way down. By chance, he was on the phone at the time, with the person on the other end hearing the entire thing as his phone was strewn across the room, and ringing 111 on his behalf when he couldn't reach it.

While the work on the SmartParc development continues, the old Celanese estate and the route to Raynesway through it via Celanese Road and Megaloughton Lane continue to be closed and modified.

The man has spoken of his dispute with the developers of the SmartParc (Derby Telegraph/BPM Media)

On Tuesday, March 28, the city council issued an emergency closure notice for Celanese Road and Holme Lane, lasting until April 17, for a "new road and junction construction".

A spokesperson for SmartParc SEGRO Derby said: “In line with normal industry practices, we have installed temporary metal wire fencing panels to prevent unauthorised access to an active and potentially hazardous construction site while we resurface the road at the Northern entrance.

"The fence has a hinged panel across Holme Lane which is pushed closed at night but is not locked.

"When our security guards saw an ambulance driving down Holme Lane they opened the hinged panel immediately upon its arrival. The panel was left open until the paramedics departed.

"We understand that construction work can be disruptive and we continue to take steps to minimise this for all our neighbours, including maintaining access at all times for residents and services to those residents, such as emergency vehicles."

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