RESIDENTS furious at the news 16 garages are to be demolished in Bradford on Avon have set up an action group to fight the decision.

Members of the Hillside Action Group include homeowners in Tory and Middle Rank who rent the threatened garages in Budbury Close from West Wiltshire Housing Society. Tenants were sent a letter two weeks ago telling them that after a review of garages across the district, theirs would be knocked down and affordable houses would be built on the land.

Half the society's 2,070 garages are in line for demolition to make way for 100 affordable homes. The Grade II Georgian terraced homes in Tory and Middle Rank are built alongside a footpath with no parking facilities apart from the garages. The action group was formed on Monday, when 40 residents turned up to share their concerns. Co-chairman Brenda Samuel said: "In the Housing Society's mission statement they say they want to work with tenants and local communities to make their living environment pleasant, but everything they've done actually counters all of that.

"We've all endorsed a letter that we'll be sending to the Housing Society to get factual information from them to justify their decision to demolish our garages. "We want to make sure we've got accurate information and are then going to write to our MP, the five district councillors on the Housing Society's board of directors and our local district councillors."

Co-chairman Trudi Harris and her husband Alan, of Tory, said they had no objection to affordable housing but did not believe Budbury Close was a suitable location. Despite the Housing Society's claim it had consulted with residents Harris said the first she knew about the demolition plans was a letter dated April 10.

As well as causing parking problems Mrs Harris said she was concerned that if houses were built on the site there would be no access for delivery or emergency vehicles.

"The housing society has also said there is little demand for the garages but I think there is a waiting list for them here," she said.

"It has become a very emotive subject for everyone here. We simply haven't got facilities for parking outside our houses and there are a number of elderly people who rely on those garages."

Rebecca O'Neill, spokesman for West Wiltshire Housing Society, said 100 questionnaires had been sent out to garage tenants in Bradford on Avon, including some to those renting garages in Budbury Close.

"The material they (the garages) are made from, pre-cast reinforced concrete, is the key problem here because it can't be repaired," she said.

"I would reassure the tenants that we will not be knocking down all the garages and will be keeping some in the nearby area. "We are not just kicking people out and where possible will offer alternative sites."

She added that the issue of emergency vehicle access would be addressed when the planning application for the house is considered by officers and councillors.