IRATE residents say a council's social housing plans are "destroying their community".

Work is in progress to demolish five tower blocks on the Pepys Estate, Deptford, to make way for new flats.

The old blocks were council property but the new flats will be owned by Hyde Housing Association in line with Lewisham Council's policy on affordable housing.

But residents on the estate say the work is unnecessary and is only being carried out to satisfy a "political agenda".

The council has opted not to retain control of its housing stock, despite public opposition to the sale.

It says it cannot raise enough money for repairs under the Government's Decent Homes improvement plan.

This is in contrast to Greenwich, which is keeping some of its stock under council ownership.

Dave Fleming, 62, of Daubaney Tower, said: "We should be able to vote on whether we want the council to keep control of our housing.

"Housing association properties push people into claiming benefits and institutionalises the way they live.

"The blocks as they were could have stood for 1,000 years with a bit of refurbishment. Why knock them down?"

Residents successfully lobbied for a public inquiry into the development, claiming they should be able to decide who owns their properties.

The results of the enquiry, held in April, are expected within the next month.

Technology teacher Malcolm Cadman, who has lived on the estate for 25 years, was forced to move into a new flat.

He said: "We are the victims of a political decision. The council doesn't want to play landlord anymore so we have to suffer.

"A community has been destroyed for a political agenda."

A council spokesman said the blocks were demolished as they were "unpopular with residents" and were "in poor condition".

She said all residents were offered a place in a council property or in one of the new flats.