COUNCIL plans to bulldoze rows of terraced homes as part of a regeneration masterplan have come under attack from the leader of St Helens' Conservative party.

Wally Ashcroft, councillor for Windle ward and St Helens' Tory leader, is backing a residents' action group in their fight against proposals to demolish homes in Chapel Street and Argyle Street, Cowley Hill.

About 20 homeowners fear council regeneration chiefs have drawn up blueprints to flatten 70 homes, 54 which are occupied, so a developer can build a new estate.

Opponents of the plans, many who are elderly, are fearful that council chiefs may attempt to enforce a compulsory purchase order on the homes.

If such an order went ahead residents would expect to get the equivalent value of their homes, with the option to buy homes on the new development.

Some residents though have lived on the streets for up to 60 years, and argue the houses enshrine the memories of their lives rather than simply being bricks and mortar.

Cllr Ashcroft, a ward councillor for the area, has met with campaigners to draw up a battle plan. He said: "People have paid mortgages off, lived there for years and are going to have to move to new houses and possibly take out new mortgages.

"I really do feel for them and I don't think it is cost effective for the council. It is likely to cost a hell of a lot of money to compulsory purchase order them. The houses are not unfit like the council is trying to make out; they are lovely homes.

"They could quite easily take down the bricked up homes and put new ones in rather than demolish the complete area."

Terraces nearby the estates have sold recently between the £70,000 and £90,000 mark, leading to Chapel Street and Argyle Street Residents' Action Group (Charge) rubbishing council suggestions the homes are unfit.

Their spokesperson said: "Could the true reason be that a developer has spotted a prime piece of building land. What price would a three-bedroom semi-detached fetch in the Cowley Hill area?"

A St Helens Council spokeswoman said a detailed report is being compiled following surveys carried out with residents. It will be viewed by St Helens Council's executive committee, though the spokesperson denied claims the proposals would come under scrutiny this month.