- Published
Surrounded by rolling fields and lakes, Ritchie Wood's home of 11 years provided the serene village life he loved.
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he → publish → life
Yet in recent weeks, his neighbours have packed their bags and left - their houses in Kempston Hardwick, Bedfordshire, soon to be reduced to rubble.
"
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neighbours → pack → rubble
It's totally changed to how it used to be - it used to be lovely.
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it → change → ?
We had a nice little community here, lots of wildlife, very quiet," Wood tells the BBC.
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Wood → have → BBC
Now, as the 55-year-old looks around him in Manor Road, all he sees are empty properties.
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he → look → Road
Wood knows his will be next.
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his → know → ?
His rented home lies in the middle of what will be Universal's new £5bn theme park, touted to be the UK's biggest tourist attraction when it opens in 2031.
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it → rent → 2031
After a long-running standoff between the developer and the residents, some of whom initially refused to leave their homes, demolition work has now started.
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work → run → homes
"I genuinely have nowhere to go", says Wood, who expects to be homeless within two months when his landlord evicts him.
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landlord → have → him
"Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to afford anywhere in the area for the same sort of rent [I pay now]."
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I → afford → rent
Contractors want to raze a terrace of 12 properties in Manor Road, as well as several others, and have closed the road until 28 November to work on it.
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Contractors → want → it
The quiet hum of village life has been replaced by the sound of lorries and generators working on the 476-acre (193ha) theme park, Wood says.
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Wood → replace → park
When I drive up and down this road, I almost feel I shouldn't be here now."
Seeing his neighbours' houses being demolished is a sight that almost brings him to tears.
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that → drive → tears
"I came past and saw them being demolished yesterday and it's heartbreaking," Wood adds.
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Wood → come → ?
"It almost brings tears to my eyes because it's all just going to go."
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it → bring → eyes
There are clear benefits to the Universal resort, which is expected to draw 8.5 million visitors a year and contribute £50bn to the UK economy by 2055.
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which → be → 2055
A 500-room hotel is planned at the site and shuttle buses from Milton Keynes Central will serve it every seven minutes on average, according to Labour MP Emily Darlington, external.
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buses → plan → Darlington
Then there are the adrenaline junkies excited by the prospect of a resort that will rival Disneyland Paris.
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that → be → Paris
"Everyone else is doing great out of this," Wood sighs.
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Wood → do → this
Out of 70 million people in the country, I'm the only person facing homelessness out of this."
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I → face → this
Residents in Manor Road were not subject to compulsory purchase orders, but, nonetheless, have told the BBC they felt forced to move.
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they → tell → BBC
Universal bypassed local planning procedures and instead got permission from the government to build the resort in December.
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Universal → bypass → December
Wood says the global brand has not done enough to support him while trying to find a new house.
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brand → say → house
Wood adds: "This has been my home for 11 years and the uncertainty of not knowing where I'm going to be in a few months time is really, really worrying.
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I → add → time
Universal has been contacted to respond to his concerns.
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Universal → contact → concerns
In a letter to residents, external on 18 September, the theme park developer said it remained "committed to being a good neighbour" during the project.
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it → say → project
It has previously stressed that 80% of the attraction's workforce will come from Bedfordshire and neighbouring counties, stating "local focus is important".
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focus → stress → Bedfordshire
The Aporia
