COUNCIL chiefs are being asked to come clean about their plans for an estate's neighbourhood housing office.

Residents of the Coldharbour Estate, New Eltham, want Greenwich Council to tell them what it is planning to do.

They have heard the office, which has been there for more than 40 years, is to close next month as part of £750m council modernisation plans.

The plans, which will affect how the council handles its housing, schools and other social commitments, could see the borough's 11 neighbourhood housing offices shut.

In their place, three one-stop shops' would be opened in Eltham, Woolwich and Greenwich.

According to the council, these would be better equipped to help tenants by bringing together more services in one place.

But Coldharbour residents say they do not want to lose their office, which a top councillor told them last year would definitely not close.

Last month the Conservative group on Greenwich Council was told by council officers the office "would not be remaining in its current form".

Ward councillor John Hills is accusing the council of playing games at residents' expense.

He said: "It is purposely misleading on the part of the Labour Party, which assured the community it would remain open.

"It will be a huge loss to residents including pensioners, who will have to travel a substantial distance to access their nearest neighbourhood office."

If the office closes it will have a knock-on effect to the attached pop-in parlour for elderly residents and the library.

Joan Whapshott, 70, of William Barefoot Drive, said: "I was told they would close the office in December, now it is February.

"It's like getting blood out of a stone. There are a great number of older people on the estate who do not want to go miles away to report their repairs or electrical faults.

"It will be a great shame if the office went."

The council would not confirm whether the office would be closing.

However, a spokesman said: "Our plans for the Coldharbour area have yet to be finalised.

"The council's modernisation plans will not only make them more accessible for people in Eltham but will also represent the biggest investment in public services in the borough for over a century."

Services at the office:

l An officer is on site to organise day-to-day emergency repairs.

l Tenant liaison officers are there for people to discuss rent and council tax problems.

l There are facilities where residents can talk about private and confidential matters to an individual officer.

l There was a cash office to pay rent but this was closed in May last year.