Tenants of a street doomed to demolition last night began their campaign to save it from the wrecking ball.

Residents of Fallowfield Gardens, Bierley, met with representatives from Bradford Community Housing Trust in a bid to persuade them not to split up their community. The Trust has drawn up plans to knock down around 30 ageing homes, rehouse tenants elsewhere and build 60 properties on the site.

Although structurally sound, experts believe the present housing stock is beyond renovation and should be replaced. But many tenants are angry at the plan and prepared to reject compensation in the hope of keeping their neighbourhood intact.

Brian Stoyles, 59, who lives with his wife Mary and their three children aged 13 to 16, said: "My neighbours are asking me if they think it is worth fighting to save this street, and I believe it is. It is like one happy family. If it comes to it, they will board themselves in."

He claimed BCHT have told him the racing pigeons he has kept for 50 years will have to go if he moves to another tenancy:

"I have to get shut of £5,000 worth of pigeons and they are telling other people they cannot take their cats," he said. "They are treating us like second rate citizens."

Tracey Manders, 37, and her partner have four children aged between six and 16. She said: "If they are saying the houses are not structurally damaged then why move us?"

Michael Jacques, 34, lives there with his partner and their four children aged between four and eight. "My children will have to change schools and that will put them back a year," he said. "Why should they do that when they are doing well where they are?"

Ian Simpson, interim executive director of East Bradford BCHT, said the move was necessary after a structural survey of the homes in Fallowfield Gardens.

"It showed that in the long term a major investment could not be justified and would cost in excess of £40,000 per home," he said. "We would need to look at rehousing options."

He said tenants were being offered alternative Trust homes and even priority nominations for homes with other nearby housing associations. "We accept the plans involve major changes to tenants' lives and, as a caring landlord, we will make every effort to meet the needs of all our tenants," he said.