ELDERLY residents have been left shocked after being told they will have to move out of their sheltered accommodation to make way for people on the council housing waiting list.

Pensioners at George Selman Gardens, in Twyford Close, Park North, were told at a meeting that 22 of them will have to look for alternative accommodation as Swindon Council aims to reduce its waiting list for general housing.

And those affected have just months to make the decision on what they are going to do.

Following an independent consultation, the council has decided that there is an over supply of sheltered housing and that this could instead be used to help to house some of the 13,000 people on the waiting list for council housing.

One of the residents affected by the cuts, who asked not to be named, got in touch with the Adver to express her concerns.

“I am one of the people being given six to 12 months to move,” she said.

“I am one of the younger residents but the whole point I moved here was because of the safety.

“We have 80-year-olds here and some of the people had no idea it was happening.

“A lot of them don’t want to go, the look on their faces was of pure shock.

“This housing is my whole life, it is everything I have been waiting for.

“You’re safe and secure and you’ve got a warden on hand to help. The news is gutting.”

Residents have got between six and 12 months to decide what to do, with those moving being offered compensation of £4,700.

There are plans to create 22 new self-contained flats at the complex which will not be directly accessible to or from the sheltered accommodation areas.

There will still be 63 sheltered homes at George Selman Gardens when the planned work is finished and there will be improvements to the shared areas, a better mobility scooter store and improved access.

Carol Bennett, of Liden whose mother lives in the sheltered accommodation, said that she is disgusted by the actions that are being taken.

“My mother is lucky enough to be moving into another flat in the building because she has lived their for 20 years,” said the 60-year-old.

“I understand there is a housing shortage but to just throw elderly people out of their homes is disgraceful, some of them have lived there for years.”

A council spokesman said: “We don’t under-estimate in any way the difficulty this can present to the residents affected, but we are doing this because we have a massive number of people waiting for general housing – nearly 13,000 – and we have too much sheltered accommodation, some of which isn’t really suitable for the purpose.

“When we have done this in the past, the large majority of residents affected have been happier with their new accommodation, but it’s understandable that in the early days they need to be convinced, and initially can be unhappy with what is being proposed.

“We will work with every resident and their family to find new housing that meets their needs, and we will provide financial assistance as well.”