M11 home under threat

BULLDOZERS poised to demolish the east London home of 93-year-old Dolly Watson to make way for a link road will not be held back indefinitely while she remains in hospital, the Department of Transport said yesterday.

Miss Watson, whose house in Claremont Road, Leytonstone, is in the path of the M11 link road, collapsed six days ago with a suspected stroke.

A DoT spokesman said that while no attempt was being made at present to demolish the house in her absence, that could change. 'Clearly the road is going to be built. If she's in hospital for a year, we couldn't be expected to hold up the contract for that long.'

But Angus Richardson, a solicitor representing the M11 link protesters and Miss Watson, said that if there was any move to demolish the house he would immediately seek an injunction in the High Court.

The Highways Agency is seeking possession orders against 150 protesters who have barricaded themselves into houses in Claremont Road.