RESIDENTS whose estate is to undergo major regeneration work have accused a council of causing them unnecessary stress.

The Ferrier Estate in Kidbrooke is to be redeveloped as part of a major £750m scheme, including 4,400 new homes.

But the Ferrier Residents' Action Group (Frag) has criticised Greenwich Council's ongoing scheme to rehouse tenants and homeowners while work, due to start next year, is carried out.

Frag chairman Nick Russell says residents should have been moved straight into the new homes rather than off the estate.

Mr Russell, 53, of Telemann Square, said: "It would have saved people on the estate a lot of stress and worry.

"Frag has been going along to almost every council meeting this year asking questions and making the point this regeneration project is going disastrously wrong."

Protestors held a demonstration outside a council meeting on July 25.

At the meeting, Conservative councillor Eileen Glover put forward a motion stating the council had not delivered the agreed aims to residents.

These included maximising the number of residents able to return to the redeveloped site.

She said afterwards: "I am not against their vision, only the way they are seeking to achieve it.

"Regeneration should not be gained at a disproportionate disbenefit to a significant number of residents of the regeneration area."

So far, around 600 tenant households have been relocated and the council has bought out 50 of the 170 homeowners.

Around 15 homeowners have taken up the offer of council tenancies.

A council spokesman said: "We have a longstanding record of consulting with residents on the Ferrier estate and the surrounding area.

"These proposals were endorsed by independent market research.

"Every household will also have the option to move back to the estate if they wish, though many residents were keen to leave.

"This is reflected by the 69 per cent who have said they do not wish to return."