Owners of former council flats are furious at the price the local authority wants to charge them for replacing a roof.

The 13 leaseholders in a block of 35 flats in Stratford Close in Toothill – the rest of which are inhabited by tenants – say they are being asked to fork out thousands of pounds.

The cost of a new roof for the whole block is priced at more than £600,000, with the leaseholders being asked for £17,000 each.

Swindon Borough Council has pointed out they don’t need to find the money in one lump sum, and says it is working with them on an acceptable solution.

But the leaseholders feel it is too much – and some don’t believe the work is needed.

Dave Morris said: “One of the blocks has had an ongoing minor leak problem for over 10 years, which they have not been able to find and resolve. The fact that they cannot find the leak, suggests it is neither obvious nor serious.

"Their own surveyor has looked at the roof and they now suggest repair with a totally new roof and replacing the roofs of the other three blocks, which are sound and serve purpose with no leaks.”

That work had been priced at £626,000.

Another leaseholder, Udi Shapira, is appealing to a tribunal against the costs.

He said: “Two-thirds of the cost will be taken from public funds because only 13 out of 35 flats are privately owned.

“I find it astonishing that during a period where the council in such deficit, and there are thousands of people who need its help they choose to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on replacing roofs that do not need preparing.”

But the council insists the whole asbestos roof needs replacing and that, as part-owners of the block, the leaseholders must bear some of the price.

A spokesman said: “The roof covering the flats in Stratford Close is in poor condition and minor repairs are no longer suitable to prevent the rainwater getting in. The roof repairs have therefore become necessary to ensure the structural integrity of the building and to keep the flats wind and weatherproof.

“We carried out a tender exercise to obtain best value for money as the cost of the roof renewal work is significant due to the complex design and the need to remove the existing asbestos sheets.

“All leaseholders have a legal responsibility to contribute their share of the costs involved. However, we do understand the financial impact these works could have on them.

“With this in mind, we consulted with all residents throughout the process and we have also devised an interest-free payment plan to help make the improvement works more affordable for the leaseholders.”

Mr Morris has written to South Swindon MP Robert Buckland who said he was concerned and the cost is “is an extraordinary amount of money to find.”