COUNCIL bosses are being urged to give their backing to controversial plans to clear 87 homes in the Rectory Road area of town.

The £1.7 million scheme is the preferred option which was being put by officers to a meeting of the housing committee today and would result in the west side of Princess Way being exclusively earmarked for industrial use.

But the recommendation will come as a major disappointment to residents in Rectory Road who say they want to keep their houses.

Some have warned they will have to "be carried out" rather than give up their homes under compulsory purchase.

Officers say handing over the area to industry is better than the £500,000 scheme to allow some of the properties to remain - and much preferred to doing nothing at all. They say it would enable the demolition of an area of isolated housing, thereby dealing with 45 unfit homes and removing a target for crime and vandalism.

It would also remove the problem of air and noise pollution to residents living near industrial and commercial premises.

The report says allowing homes to remain would see the continuation of existing problems and probable further decline from lack of investment.

It adds: "In order to gain the greatest benefit and development potential from this site, it is considered necessary to clear all the residential properties.

"To do otherwise would result in severe limitations to future development prospects and could lead to environmental and amenity problems for the remaining residents.

If the officers' recommendation is approved tomorrow, the whole issue will be thrown open to public consultation before a final decision is made by the council - with further opposition likely to trigger a public inquiry.

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