A £10 MILLION redevelopment of the Ramslye estate in Tunbridge Wells is expected to start in May.

Revised proposals to replace 50 existing flats in Ropers Gate and Summervale Road with 62 new homes have been put forward after public consultation. The new build will also rehouse the post office and convenience store and extend on to a green at the rear of the estate.

Residents were invited to comment on the plans at two meetings last year.

Town and Country Housing then made a number of alterations including pushing the development back from Summervale Road, providing car parking for the post office and reducing the number of terraced houses.

But some residents of the estate still have doubts.

Jeanette Markwick, 67, from Summervale Road, thought the development was "pointless" and "a sign of the times".

She said: "They are knocking down perfectly good flats, which aren't that old. They are going to get rid of the green, the parking is going to get worse and there is nothing we can do about it."

Neighbour Ken Jones, 22, said: "I don't know why they don't just renovate the area rather than demolish it."

Another Summervale Road resident Martin Steers, 37, was happy housing bosses had eased some fears but wanted more assurances. He said: "I am slightly worried about who they are going to move in and the view from my garden will now be obscured.

"Apart from that hopefully it will improve the area for the better. It has been an eyesore for so long now."

New initiatives manager for Town and Country Tim Warren said: "We wanted the local community to be involved all the way through the process, and we had a fantastic response to the meetings we held, with more than 200 people coming.

"Wherever possible we have changed our plans to reflect residents' views, and where it hasn't been possible we have explained why."

While Tunbridge Wells Borough Council hopes to announce its verdict by April 13, Town and Country Housing is currently in the process of moving out those residents who occupy the condemned flats.