A PETITION signed by 140 Ryelands residents was not enough to stop councillors voting this week to send in the bulldozers to demolish 32 houses on the estate.

Residents protested outside Morecambe Town Hall on Wednesday as the council met to discuss the controversial plans.

The bulldozers will only move in to knock down properties where tenants have agreed to demolition and the space created will be used to improve community facilities.

There's up to £4.3 million available for the redevelopment of Ryelands but because up to 100 properties a year become vacant on the estate the council is keen to regenerate it and make lasting improvements.

The first phase of clearance work, centred around Martle Place and Ryelands Road, will also lead to the formation of Community Forum and the signing of a Secure Neighbourhood Agreement.

But it was heated issue with some councillors, especially from the Green group, speaking out against the demolition plans.

Cllr Gina Dowding said: "I can sympathise with the need to move forward but I don't think the people of Ryelands will want things moving in the wrong direction. There has been a two year delay but that doesn't mean we should go ahead with something that's not got the right options. There have been some very important questions raised that we haven't yet had the answers to."

Labour's Cllr Ian Barker admitted the plans were not perfect but added: "We've got to move on. This may not be the absolute best way forward but we don't have an infinite amount of time to find something better. We shouldn't let the perfect get in the way of the good."

Housing officer, Steven Milce, said: "We will be able to make an early start on undertaking the improvements to tenants homes. Whilst the council understand people's reservations about demolition, it also recognises the need to reduce its number of houses on the estate. At any one time we have more than 30 vacancies with no families on the waiting list expressing an interest in Ryelands.

"Hopefully, a reduced number of properties, combined with a comprehensive package of property and estate improvements will mean that Ryelands' tenants can now look forward to the future with confidence."