RESIDENTS in Southampton have won their fight to stop their sheltered homes being flattened.

The tenants of Erskine Court launched a campaign after housing bosses unveiled plans to demolish their block and move them to new homes.

But last night city housing chief Peter Baillie scrapped the move and revealed the residents could stay.

The move came just 24 hours before tenants stepped up their fight with a high profile protest outside their Lordshill flats.

Southampton City Council had wanted to move the residents from 21 flats into more modern homes and use the Erskine Court site for another development.

But last night after meeting campaigners Cllr Baillie announced a council U-turn.

He said: “Erskine Court has no lift, half the block is made up of bedsits and residents have to share shower facilities.

“ Simply put, I wanted better for them. Refurbishing the block would cost vast amounts of money, which we cannot commit to when there are good viable alternatives for the residents.

“However, today the residents have told me that they would prefer to continue living at Erskine Court.

“I can assure residents that they can continue to live at Erskine Court.

“However, we will still have the issue of a housing block which is under capacity and not fit for purpose, and I look forward to working with residents in the future to find a way of solving that problem.”

Residents were today due to join hands around the block in protest at the plans but they have decided to turn that into a ring of celebration.

Campaigner Lynne Lawton, 61, said: “We are all so happy.

We would just like to say a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who supported us. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”

The tenants – who were led to believe Erskine Court was to be refurbished over the coming months – were left outraged after receiving a letter outlining the planned closure two weeks ago.

Their campaign to overturn the plans received backing from the Lordshill Tenants Association and the Sheltered Housing Forum. Local Labour Cllr Don Thomas added: “This U-turn is a great victory- not only for the residents of Erskine Court but for all Southampton residents who may find themselves in this sort of position in the future. We always said this is not a done deal.”