AFTER months of delay, the bulldozers have finally moved in to carry out the long-awaited demolition of eight empty houses at Chase Field - the victims of the worst flooding seen in Farringdon for at least 50 years. Originally owned by the New Downland Housing Association, at Christmas 2000 Chase Field saw a mass evacuation of residents when the Lavant Stream rose to submerge the site under up to eight feet of water. Eight families were eventually relocated and the houses have stood empty since. Four years of negotiation came to a head in July last year when an Inspector for the Department of the Environment agreed a plan by Landford Homes Ltd for a replacement development of 25 dwellings on land south of Maplecombe Farm. The site lies above the flood plain, immediately east of Chase Field which is to be flattened and returned to public open space. The site is now owned by Charles Church, whose Portsmouth-based sub-contractors Hughes and Salvage are currently demolishing the houses and will then go on to demolish farm buildings at Maplecombe to make way for the new development. They have made it by the skin of their teeth - local concern over the possible nesting of housemartins under the eaves of the houses could have resulted in yet further delay. Alerted by a former resident, Hampshire and Isle of Wight wildlife crime officer, Pc Geoff Culbertson swung into action and sent someone round to investigate. He told The Herald that all European birds are protected by law and if the birds had start to nest the company could be forced to delay work until the end of the summer when the young have safely flown the nest. According to a contractor on site, the inspector had visitedand the birds were not yet nesting so the demolition gang had received the go-ahead.