Residents fight to keep their homes

That's the message from people in a Bradford street who are angry at proposals to demolish their houses.

Proposals have been announ-ced to build 700 new homes on Ravenscliffe estate and to give the area a new name - Holywell Village - as part of a £60 million revamp.

But people in Lambourne Avenue are furious that their homes may be demolished. They say their homes are well cared for, despite problems on other parts of the estate.

They have drawn up a petition to fight the plans and say they will fight the proposals through the courts if necessary.

One of the residents, John Roach, said: "We will stick together and fight it all the way."

The changes for Ravenscliffe were announced by Bradford Community Housing Trust which formally takes over Bradford's 26,000 Council homes on Monday.

The trust has pledged to invest more than £1.1 billion to bring every home up to modern standards and to carry out a £175 million repair-and- improvement plan over the next five years.

Three private housing developers - Oakapple Homes, Haslam Homes and Lowry Homes - are involved in the Ravenscliffe plans. Residents on the estate have now been asked for their views in a major consultation exercise.

The plan for Ravenscliffe involves 700 new homes, of which 500 will be sold and 200 rented.

The new homes will be two- or three-bedroom properties aimed at attracting first-time and middle-market buyers.

The plans were met with doubts from some residents who fear they may not be able to afford to move back.

And they do not trust the Council's pledge that they can stay in the area.

Mr Roach, who has drawn up a 13-name petition among people on Lambourne Avenue, said: "We have a deep love of our homes, neighbours and friends, so much that we have signed a petition in what I can only believe shows a determined, consolidated and solid intention to fight any change to a community of residents who have cared for, renovated and modernised their homes regardless of the costs."

He added that the stress and worry that this proposal was causing the residents was unnecessary.

In their petition, the residents say: "Over the years people who loved this avenue have passed away but the spirit of this enclave lives on in the new owners and tenants.

"We intend, as a community, to fight for our right to live where we are in our own homes. If we are not taken seriously and our own homes are jeopardised, then we will have to appeal to a higher authority, and if necessary take our case to the European courts."

Jez Lester, of Bradford Council's housing department, said the Council was taking notice of public opinion.

He said: "We have to look at how we can move on. We asked the developers to come up with this set of proposals and now we have to put them to the public. No one will have to leave. There does not have to be any demolition if the community doesn't want it."

Councillor Kris Hopkins, Bradford Council's executive member for the community, said: "We cannot stress too strongly how important it is for us to have comments from local residents on the plans being put forward by developers."