COUNCIL chiefs have admitted they made a mistake by not consulting residents of a Fareham estate over proposed insulation improvements to their homes.

A council proposal recommended pressing ahead with a controversial £120,000 revamp of homes on the Red Barn Estate despite residents' objections.

But people living in the council properties on the estate claim their homes will "stick out like a sore thumb" with new brightly coloured insulation cladding on the exterior of their homes, compared to the privately owned houses.

In turn the residents argued it may decrease the market value of all the homes.

Led by former councillor Steve Clark they had presented a 131-signature petition asking the council to rethink the plan.

A meeting of Fareham's executive agreed that it should have consulted all residents and will now do so before proposing how to progress.

Fareham's executive member for housing Councillor Ernest Crouch said he did not think there was any stigma attached to a council house but there was a need to ensure that the council's housing stock met the government's Decent Homes Standard.

He said: "I really must apologise that we did not consult. That is a failure on our part.

"That someone could arrive home to find a surveyor measuring up the windows is totally abhorrent."

He pointed out that nobody had made representations to him or the Tenant's Area Panel about their concerns.

Representing the residents Councillor Roger Price argued that if the work was repairs then it needed to be done but if it was improvements then the tenants could choose whether they have the work done.

He said: "What I'm concerned about is that this cladding will make the properties stand out. It will look like a patch work quilt in the estate."

Campaigner Christine Griffiths, of Robinson Court was delighted that the council had agreed to consult the residents. She added: "It shows if you stand up to the council then they will listen."