Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street schemer Ray Crosby triumphs over his enemies in the New Year as his planned development officially gets the green light.
Ray (Mark Frost) has spent the past few months plotting to demolish half of the Street and build a tower block – much to the fury of the existing residents.
Scenes airing in early January see Ray and his sidekick Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) formally make their case for the development at a council planning meeting.
The pair's plans are bitterly opposed by Roy Cropper (David Neilson), who also gets a chance to speak and makes an impassioned plea to save their community.
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Once the meeting is over, the council chairperson announces a ruling in Ray's favour – the development can go ahead.
Soon afterwards, Coronation Street's residents receive letters informing them that they have just two weeks to vacate their properties before the demolition work starts.
Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor) is highly suspicious over the letters being delivered so soon after the committee's decision.
She's right to smell a rat, as Ray is later seen meeting with the chairperson of the planning committee for a drink. It seems he has been calling in favours again.
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Later in the week, Abi Franklin (Sally Carman) refuses to back down and takes to a float, using a loudhailer to shout damning allegations about Ray.
Craig Tinker (Colson Smith) has to disperse the protest, but in the chaos that follows, Abi throws the loudhailer and accidentally hits him in the face.
Things only get worse for the locals when David Platt's locks are changed without warning in order to drive him out.
Related: Coronation Street star Charlie de Melo addresses unresolved Rana Habeeb death story
Sally and Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) are also told that the Hale Barns project has been postponed indefinitely, but they'll still have to leave Number 4 soon.
As Abi expresses hope that someone out there has ammunition to stop Ray, her words leave Faye (Ellie Leach) in turmoil. Will the teen speak out against him?
Coronation Street airs these scenes on Monday, January 4 and Wednesday, January 6 on ITV.
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