Sutton Council have made a dramatic U-turn on the decision to evict almost 100 pensioners from their homes.

Last week, the Sutton Guardian revealed plans by the council to throw out 85 OAPs so they could demolish their houses in Cheam Village to make way for a new development.

But following our story the council now plans to bring in a “rolling programme of building” allowing pensioners a temporary reprieve.

The homes to be knocked down are in Mickleham Gardens, Elizabeth House, Malden Road and Pond Hill Gardens.

Building work may now take place around some of the most vulnerable residents who wish to stay.

It comes as a minor victory for the elderly residents of the site, many of whom are frail and do not wish to be “decanted” as the plans state.

Some of the residents have vowed to stay in their homes until forcibly removed.

Tony Churchill, 66, said: “We will fight them on the beaches. They are going to have to drag me out. I’m one of the younger ones and I don’t want to have to move about.

Resident Anne Culley, 66 said: “They are not thinking of us as people. They choose to use the word decant which takes away the human factor, you decant liquids. In their eyes we are just things that can be moved around.”

“I’ve grown up here. I still cannot understand. We know how long they have had this in mind, why have they not built the unit and then transferred everyone as a community.”

Councillor Colin Stears, who is leading the regeneration project, has admitted that Elizabeth House has not been fit for purpose for 15 years.

He said the buildings are being torn down because there are no lifts in the multi-level building and communal shared bathrooms making the bedsits difficult to let. Other properties on the site have similar mobility and access problems making them also unsuitable for letting as sheltered accommodation.

He said: “This is about integration, not segregation.”