The last man living on ‘Britain’s loneliest street’ says he has no intention of leaving, even though all of his neighbours have, having recently spent good money on redecorating his gaff.
Nick Wisniewski, 67, has lived on Stanhope Place in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire for 22 years, and doesn't want to move out now.
Despite that, the council have offered him £35,000 if he agrees to leave his flat so that the area can be redeveloped.
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The whole estate – which has eight blocks of flats and other homes – is set to be demolished, but Nick says he’s recently spent £2,000 redecorating his house and therefore, he’s not up for leaving.
Everyone else has gone, though.
There are 128 flats now empty near Nick’s house, and the rest of the 200 residents left more than a year ago.
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But Nick says he hasn’t heard from the council since November 2021.
The area has just been left to ruin, with even Nick admitting that some parts are an eyesore.
There’s no-one cleaning up the area, and the lights have been turned off on most of the other floors.
Still, he isn’t up for moving.
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Retired bank worker Nick explained: “I have painted the whole flat and done some wallpapering in the hall and living room.
“I put up some wood panelling in the hall, it’s looking really nice.
“I had to get a new cooker too, so all in I think it costs me between £1,500 and £2,000.
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“I’m not worried about spending money on the flat because I think I am going to be here for a while, I have still heard nothing from the council.
“At the end of last year they said they were doing a compulsory purchase order but they haven’t even notified me about it.
“The last time I spoke to anyone from the council about it was November 2021, it’s absolutely shocking.”
He continued: “At the other side of the car park area a huge pile of rubble has appeared and people have just started dumping their rubbish there now.
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“I have no idea where it came from but it’s an eyesore."
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“I think people think no one lives here anymore and have just started using it as a dumping ground, it’s like a s**t tip.
“I am on the bottom floor but up the stairs is in total darkness now, there are no lights on anymore.
“The grass is overgrown, it all looks terrible."
Nick bought the flat from the council in 2017 and he claims that the area used to be buzzing.
Now, the authorities want to flatten the area and redevelop it, offering Nick £35,000 and two years of rent payments to move.
But he claims that offer isn’t enough to buy somewhere else, though.
Nick said: “When I found out I was going to be the last person left on the street I really did worry there would be problem, but thankfully there hasn’t been in trouble.
“I could be wrong, but I am assuming the council are holding off until they build the new bungalows and maybe they will offer me one of them.
“If they are offering me money for the flat it would need to be near the £100,000 mark now - prices have gone up, everything is more expensive now.”
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: "It is normal practice for residents to be responsible for the upkeep of indoor communal areas they use.
"The council has not received any reports from Mr Wiesnewski in relation to lighting faults or repair work required.
“We are pursuing a Compulsory Purchase Order for the property having at all times tried to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement with Mr Wiesnewski.
"We remain open to discuss a voluntary purchase and would encourage him to work with us to enable him to move to an alternative property and allow the regeneration work to progress.”
Tom Wood