Excalibur put to the sword (From This Is Local London)

Excalibur put to the sword

10:46am Wednesday 17th August 2005 in

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RESIDENTS who want to buy their "unique" prefab estate from the council fear their dreams are dying.

Tenants on the estate in Catford hoped to wrestle control of their homes from Lewisham Council by purchasing their 189 prefab houses, which were built after the Second World War.

But now Excalibur, the tenants' co-operative which manages the estate, says this move looks unlikely because it cannot get funding to buy the homes.

This has led some residents to criticise its representative for not doing enough to safeguard the future of the 60-year-old houses.

In November, estate manager Howard Davies told News Shopper banks had already promised to lend it the money to buy the estate.

He now admits this money is no longer on the table and the co-operative is considering "all options".

This could mean a housing association could take over the estate.

Residents fear this could see their beloved prefabs demolished in favour of higher-density flats.

Jim Blackender, of Pelinore Road, said: "Nobody here wants a housing association and we are not prepared to let one through the back door.

"These houses are part of our heritage. It will take bulldozers and bailiffs to get us out of here."

Mr Blackender added: "The people running our co-operative have not done enough to protect our homes."

The residents are now due to hold a meeting with Mr Davies and other Excalibur bosses later this month to thrash out their differences.

Mr Davies said: "We are looking at all options but it seems we lack the money to go-ahead with our original plan.

"We are all fighting the same battle. We just need to decide the best way forward."

Whitefoot ward councillor Carl Kisicki says housing association control is "inevitable" if the estate is to meet the Government's Decent Homes standard by 2010.

He added: "This is a unique community which has a strong feeling and attachment to the properties.

"Hopefully if a housing association does take control there it will be one which is sympathetic to the needs of the community."

Lewisham cabinet member for housing Councillor Susan Wise said: "The council is working closely with the elected committee for Excalibur Estate, advising it on its options."

The council says it will ballot residents once a decision has been reached.