RESIDENTS on the Ridge estate have blasted the council for breaking their promise to carry out vital renovation work in Ridge Square.

The residents believed that £212,000 has been set aside to rejuvenate the run-down square and set up a community cafe for young people.

But this week the allocation was reduced to just £60,000 with the political parties blaming each other for the funding cut.

Ridge resident, Lorna Stevens, said: "A significant number of people living on the Ridge estate were enthusiastic about the prospect of rejuvenating their area and a steering committee was formed. "These people were under the impression that the council was offering them a say about the community in which they lived. They were under the impression that the council was prepared to listen to what they needed and act upon it."

The residents also claim they were misled by the council when they were told a meeting to discuss the plans would be held in private. The meeting was actually open to the public.

Another resident told the Citizen: "It seems we are back to square one, since most of the money has magically disappeared . The whole of the council budget has been slashed because of mistakes made last year. This farce has dragged on for years and it seems that this new council is not about to make things better either."

Housing chief, Cllr Carol Broad blamed the previous administration for misleading the residents. She said: "Labour have misled the local people yet again. They have made false promises to the Ridge and this is a despicable act."

But Labour's Cllr Ian Barker hit back saying: "Cllr Broad was boasting that the council would consult with Ridge residents, now she has effectively told them that they can only chose the cheapest and least radical option."

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