John Gretton was re-housed as his former flat will be knocked down for a new Aldi but he is not happy with his current living situation
John Gretton was re-housed as his former flat will be knocked down for a new Aldi but he is not happy with his current living situation
13:00, 04 Apr 2026
A Southport man has told Sefton Council to “sod off” after he was forbidden from smoking marijuana in his new house. John Gretton has been re-housed after being given a no-fault eviction notice to make way for a new Aldi.
On March, Sefton Council announced plans for the new Aldi foodstore off Sandbrook Road in Ainsdale promising a £7m investment in the area. The new shop would be built on land next to St John Stone Church where there are currently several flats and shops.
However the news was a surprise for Sandbrook Road resident John Gretton and his 64-year-old housemate who lived in one of those flats. He feared he would be made homeless as a result of the new development.
In response, an Aldi spokesperson said they would work with the council to make sure residents “receive the support they need.” . Council leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said: “Sefton Council have agreed to support rehousing these tenants as part of the council’s continued commitment to assist those in need, whilst acquiring all of the remaining properties.”
Since the ECHO first reported on Mr Gretton’s situation, he has since been moved into a six bedroom property in Southport along with his flatmate. However he told the ECHO the situation was more akin to a hostel or a hotel rather than a home.
He said: “They said ‘well we have got a six bedroom house’. We moved in but it’s a hostel. They are calling it a guest house but it’s all single rooms.”
He said they are currently on their own but have been given little information about their living situation, though his only costs staying at the property are related to his bills. John said: “We have no legal right to be in here because they have not given me any paperwork or anything”.
However he also told the ECHO they have been given a set of rules including that they cannot smoke inside, cannot put shelving on the walls, and cannot have guests over.
He said: “We are like sod off. We are doing what we want. We weren’t told it’s a hotel this place.”
Asked whether there was an option to smoke outside, he said: “That isn’t the point. I am 60. We shouldn’t have to do that. You can’t even put things on the wall. It’s not a home.
“It’s a place to stay. If you can’t smoke or do drugs or have parties, it’s not living. You do not live in a hotel.
“You stay in a hotel. At our age, it’s disgusting what they are doing. It’s not our fault we can’t get on Property Pool. If you can’t do what you want within the law obviously, it’s not living.”
Property Pool Plus is a housing scheme that helps people find affordable housing across the region and John later clarified he was referring to marijuana in his comments about drugs. While medical cannabis can be prescribed, this is for an extremely small number of people.
John said: “They promised us we wouldn’t be homeless. Though I have a roof over my head, I do not consider this as being a home”, adding: “We weren’t told it was a hotel. I wouldn’t have taken it if we knew they had rules.”
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “We’ve worked with Mr Gretton to find suitable temporary accommodation in Southport. The property is not shared with anyone else and the agreement contains standard terms for a property being used for this purpose, including not being able to smoke marijuana.”
The spokesperson said they met with Mr Gretton on April 2 to run through any further details that needed to be clarified.
