Residents of several Be One Homes properties in Westhoughton were issued with the eviction notices several weeks ago after the property owner notified the organisation of their intention to sell.

But many residents say they were not given adequate information on how to find alternative accommodation, nor information on why they were being evicted, with some afraid they may become homeless.

Resident Ross Cruickshanks said: “It started in March – we got given a section 21 notice and were given until May 10 to leave.

The affected properties at 32 – 46 New Drake Green (Image: Ross Cruickshanks)

“It was very unexpected – we received very little information from Be One Homes.”

Ross said that Be One Homes told him they would sort out new accommodation for him, though he says he is ‘still waiting’ for this.

“I reached out to them a few times after it happened,” Ross said.

“I made phone calls, sent emails, and rang up the office directly – I left a message but never got a call back.

“I always paid my rent, and I never did any damage to the place – it’s a kick in the teeth.”

The property is managed by Be One Homes but owned privately – the issue came about when the current owner informed Be One Homes they would like to sell.

Residents say they were not made aware that this was the reason for their eviction notices, however.

The residents were issued with section 21 ‘no-fault’ notices, meaning they could be evicted despite not having fallen behind on rent or caused damage.

After Westhoughton councillor John McHugh, (pictured) got involved, Be One Homes issued an apology, and have been contacting residents to help them find alternative accommodation.

Be One Homes have offered an apology and are rectifying the issue (Image: Martini)

Cllr McHugh said: “It’s had a good ending now, and Be One Homes have contacted the affected residents to help.

“Be One are contacting the residents to offer support and guidance, and some residents have already been offered new accommodation.

“They have admitted they could have done better.”

Be One Homes have now begun calling affected residents to help them find new accommodation, and have apologised for the lack of communication with residents.

A spokesperson for Be One Homes said: “We’re aware of concerns raised about households in Westhoughton who recently received formal notices linked to some of our tenancies, and we understand the worry this caused.

“The tenancies affected involve homes that we lease and manage on behalf of private owners. Because we don’t own these homes, what we can do and be responsible for is limited, which is why these tenancies are coming to an end.

Noel Sharpe (CEO of Be One Homes) (Image: Be One Homes)

“Our absolute priority is that everyone affected transitions to a safe, suitable place to live. We’re working directly with each household to do this where possible.

“For some customers, we have already secured a new home that better meets their needs and represents an improvement on their current home.

“We recognise that our initial communication didn’t do enough to explain this context or the support available, and we’re sorry for the uncertainty this created.

“We’ve reflected on this and have adjusted our approach, so conversations now are clearer and more personal.”

Wu Yize has revealed that Ronnie O’Sullivan text him with some advice at a crucial moment in the World Snooker Championship final, helping turn the tide in his favour.

The 22-year-old beat Shaun Murphy 18-17 in one of the great Crucible finals, the first deciding frame contest in a showpiece since 2002.

It was the climax of a brilliant tournament, which saw Wu down Lei Peifan, Mark Selby, Hossein Vafaei and Mark Allen, with his semi-final win over the Northern Irishman also coming in a deciding frame.

Wu produced relentlessly attacking snooker throughout the event, sinking long pots and making big breaks from unlikely positions.

However, there was a period in the final that got very sticky for him as Murphy moved into the ascendency on Monday afternoon.

The Chinese star started the last day of the event 10-7 ahead after looking excellent on Sunday night, but he wobbled in the third session and the Magician won five frames on the spin.

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With the Englishman firmly in charge, there looked every chance Murphy could win all eight frames in the session but Wu managed to stop the rot and win the final three, with two half-centuries.

It was an impressive way to bounce back and the champion has revealed that the Rocket played a part in the recovery which proved key over the piece.

‘At that time my goal was to extend the lead. I wasn’t playing really that bad, but I wasn’t focussed to do what I do best,’ Wu told the Snooker Club podcast. ‘I went out to try to give myself some time to cool down.

‘Ronnie texted me telling me to stay focussed. To be calm and also to try to play to my own strengths. I was really happy I was able to do that.’

The seven-time world champion has been something of a mentor for Wu over the last season, working on the practice table with him ahead of his maiden ranking success at the International Championship in November.

O’Sullivan predicted that Wu would become world champion and world number one in the near future, with the first of those achievements already ticked off.

‘He’s been helping me so much,’ said Wu of the Rocket. ‘He taught me how to handle the situation during the match, how to handle different situations on the table.

‘It’s definitely experience I’ve learned from him, I benefit from the time I spent with him a lot.’

Speaking in February at the World Grand Prix, O’Sullivan said of Wu: ‘If I like them I pass knowledge on. If I don’t they don’t get two minutes of my time. I choose the ones I feel a bit of a connection to.

‘I think Wu Yize is gong to be world number one, I’d give him three years, definitely going to be world champion very, very soon, phenomenal player.’

He added: ‘I practiced with him for two or three days in Hong Kong not long ago and it’s not until you practice with someone that you can really appreciate how good they are. After day two I was like, this kid is really special.

‘I’d just love to go and see him fulfil his potential as a professional. He’s only 22. I expect him to do a lot of great things in snooker.’

MORE: Wu Yize sends tear-jerking message to his parents after mum’s health struggles

MORE: Wu Yize edges Shaun Murphy in all-time great World Snooker Championship final

MORE: Shaun Murphy chops Wu Yize’s lead to set up thrilling climax to Crucible final

The Edinburgh-based company ceased operations following the voluntary liquidation.

The formal appointment of Opus Restructuring to EcoJet follows the allocation of interim liquidators earlier this year. 

The company planned flights from Edinburgh to Southampton with mainland Europe and longer flights also proposed, but the schedule was not launched.

It comes amid separate pressures for the aviation industry with US carrier Spirit going bust after more than three decades in operation.

A notice in the Gazette government public record on May 1 states that “joint liquidators have been appointed” to EcoJet.

Paul Dounis and Mark Harper, of Opus Restructuring, were appointed after earlier being allocated as interim liquidators.

Opus said: “EcoJet was a start-up business and has no material assets.

“The members have elected to fund the liquidation process to ensure that the company’s employees receive their full statutory entitlements.”

EcoJet was founded by Dale Vince, who is also behind green energy firm Ecotricity.

The company ceased trading after liquidators were appointed. (Image: EcoJet)

Mr Vince said earlier that backers remain committed “to electrifying all forms of transport, adding: “Aviation is the last frontier and the hardest.”

He said then: “It’s taking longer than we hoped, to get the technology and regulatory pieces of the puzzle in alignment, and so we’re pausing work at this time.

“This is a vital frontier in the move to net zero, green living, whatever you choose to call it – and it’s absolutely doable. It’s a matter of when not if.”

Ecotricity said of the airline on its website at the time of the launch: “The move marks the beginning of an aviation revolution by making net-zero, emission-free air travel possible for the first time.”

It added: “EcoJet’s fleet will comprise conventional planes retrofitted with hydrogen-electric powertrains.

“Once converted, the aircraft will operate with the same power output as before, but with a 100% reduction in CO2 emissions.

“The decision to repurpose old planes rather than build new models from scratch will save 90,000 tonnes of carbon per year.”