Elderly residents punched their fists in the air and branded Sutton Council officers cruel' and heartless' as they heard how they may lose their homes.

At an emotional public meeting in Oakhill Road on Tuesday, elderly residents the majority of whom are over 80 from the Belsize Gardens sheltered housing scheme, reacted with fury to the results of a recent BEST value review which found four out of the 21 council-run schemes would need redevelopment.

The report says it is necessary to redevelop Belsize Gardens, Sydney Road, Andrews House and Leicester House.

Sheltered housing manager Leslie Godden explained to the 50 or so residents and relatives that the report highlighted security and structural issues, which could cause mobility problems in the current accommodation.

The plans would involved rehousing residents, either temporarily or permanently, while work is carried out.

But worried residents, some of whom were sitting in their mobility aids, remained defiant, threatening not to leave until the bailiffs carried them out.

Some sang: "We will not be moved" while others became clearly upset at the prospect of being forced from their homes.

One man said: "Some of us would rather die than leave.

"We have a great community and we love it where we are. Can't you just let us stay for 10 years?

"Most of us will be dead by then anyway."

"We want to continue enjoying our twilight years, but many of us will lose years from the worry this is causing."

A fellow resident added: "We were told 14 years ago that we would be able to stay here for the rest of our lives.

"What kind of Christmas are we going to have now?"

Executive head of community living Simon Latham said: "We need to balance the residents' needs with long term investment, which is always difficult.

"Delaying the decision isn't going to assist in the long term and we want to provide the housing needed for the 21st century and the next generation."

He said individual residents would be interviewed as regards their preference for housing from January.

By June, the team hope to present a document to the council outlining how the redevelopment will proceed.

December 6, 2001 09:31