RESIDENTS of troubled Tulle Court in Prestwich are still living in limbo despite being told 12 months ago it was to be flattened.

As reported in the Guide last January, Tulle Court and Kersal Close in Prestwich were two flats developments earmarked for improvements by Bury Council.

The locations were so unpopular with tenants that the majority of flats were left empty with no hope of letting them.

The Council decided the best course of action was to sell them off to Manchester Methodist Housing Association (MMHA) who would refurbish Kersal Close and demolish and rebuild part of Tulle Court.

While Kersal Close has been empty for some time, there are still 27 tenants in Tulle Court, including three owner-occupiers, waiting for the housing department to re-house them in Prestwich.

In July last year, the Guide reported the concerns of residents who were plagued by vandalism and intimidated by gangs of youths.

People felt they had been left in the dark over the plans and had put their lives on hold waiting for a moving date.

Six months on, they say the situation has not changed.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "Last year we had a meeting in January and we were told everybody would be re-housed by Christmas. It is now 12 months later and not one person has moved. We expected the main block to be bulldozed in the new year and everyone is on hold waiting to move. I don't know why the council keep us hanging on. It is very upsetting."

The woman said she owned her property and her future was in the council's hands as she could not move until they had bought it from her.

She added: "It is making me ill, worrying about where I am going to live."

Other tenants were waiting to be relocated elsewhere in Prestwich but they have been told there is a shortage of suitable properties in the town.

Don Simpson, head of strategic services at Bury Councils housing department, said there had been a delay with the plans from MMHA but he was hopeful of a new timescale for the coming year.

He said he was expecting a definitive redevelopment proposal from MMHA by spring and the plans would then have to go through the planning process.

Mr Simpson said: "In the meantime, we will get on with the re-housing process as fast as possible but suitable accommodation in Prestwich is in very short supply. I know it is not very nice living there and we would like to be offering the tenants something better."