PEOPLE living on an estate earmaked for demolition say they have been left in the dark over its future.

On Wednesday, a Lewisham Council mayor and cabinet meeting will discuss the regeneration of Milford Towers, the high-rise housing estate which rises above Catford shopping centre.

Tenants were consulted last month over proposals which would see the estate knocked down as early as next July and current residents moved elsewhere while new homes are built.

But council officers say any project is dependant upon finances and negotiations with Tesco and others in the shopping centre.

Vice-chairman of Milford Towers Community Association Ron White - Milford Towers’ former caretaker - is not holding out much hope.

He said: “I’m 84 now and I don’t think I’ll be around to see it.

“Lewisham Homes and the council tell you this, they tell you that - it’s been going on for so long.

“All of this revolves around Tesco - they’ve got to move first.” News Shopper: The estate could now be pulled down

In the meantime tenants say the place is used as a dump for rubbish, while drug use and fires have been a problem over the years.

It has also been the scene of two gruesome murders in recent times.

Chairman Hugh Williams said: “All we can do at the moment is sit and wait.

“I’m perfectly happy here.”

But he said: “The general feeling is knock it down - at least something’s going to be happening then.”

A Lewisham Council spokesman said it had "conducted numerous consultation exercises with Milford Towers residents including in recent weeks".

He said: "The response to the consultation has been very positive, with the vast majority of respondents in favour of the demolition of the estate.

"We have also established a stakeholder group for Catford on which Milford Towers residents are represented by their association reps, and will continue to consult with residents and attend association meetings as the scheme progresses.