ELDERLY residents fighting to stop part of their sheltered housing scheme from closing have been outlining their concerns to their MP.

Derek Conway, who represents Old Bexley and Sidcup, visited Heron Crescent in Sidcup last week to meet the residents, after they delivered a petition to him at the House of Commons in December.

London and Quadrant Housing Association (L&Q) which owns and manages the scheme, has been consulting residents on its plans to demolish 25 of the 44 homes in the scheme and use cash from redeveloping the site to upgrade the remaining ones.

Only six of the 25 flats earmarked for demolition are still occupied.

The residents of the other 19 have been persuaded to move elsewhere, although L&Q has promised no one will be forced to move.

But the residents say they are worried about the future of the rest of the scheme and are angry the 19 flats have remained empty while there is a waiting list for sheltered housing in the borough.

Residents in other schemes are also concerned.

Three years ago, L&Q was forced to drop plans to close six of its 16 sheltered housing schemes in Bexley, following a public outcry.

It claimed the demand for sheltered housing was falling, and wanted to redevelop the sites for other housing.

Now people living in some of those schemes fear L&Q may revive parts of its plans.

L&Q says no final decision has been made on the future of the empty Heron Crescent flats, so it is not possible to relet them.

It says it also considers them no longer fit for purpose, which is why it wants to upgrade the remaining flats.

So far L&Q says it has upgraded four schemes and more work is due to start shortly.

A spokeswoman said: “To help fund the programme Bexley Council agreed to L&Q disposing of some homes, subject to full consultation and approval of the existing residents.”

After his visit, Mr Conway who was involved in the previous sheltered housing battle with L&Q, said: “I hope L&Q and Bexley Council realise how much pressure these pensioners are under and set out the plans clearly, and soon.”