Houses Woodhill Crescent Prestwich

James L Edwards, architect, of 88 Mosley Street, and residing at 5 Gloucester Road, Urmston, was yesterday charged at Manchester County Police Court with obtaining by false pretences from Prestwich Urban District Council three sums of £75 each. The charges related to the obtaining of subsidies for houses. The Prestwich Council attached to the grant of subsidies in their district the condition that the subsidy would not be paid if the net cost of a house to the purchaser exceeded £600. Edwards was responsible for the erection of a number of houses in Prestwich and it was alleged that he had claimed the subsidy for two houses in Woodlands Crescent which had been sold for £725. In evidence the builder, Mr Way, stated that he had been paid £579 per house.  At the Salford Hundred Quarter Sessions it emerged in cross examination that any subsidy was paid by Prestwich UDC on their own surveyor’s certificate. On the direction of the chairman, the jury returned a not guilty verdict.

Reference    Manchester Guardian 4 March 1930 page 16
Reference    Manchester Guardian 25 April 1930 page 13