FAMILIES living in a run-down estate have had their hopes of new homes crushed by Harrow Council's development control committee.

Plans for 256 new homes at the Strongbridge estate in Rayners Lane, which was ravaged by fire just before Christmas in 2002 were branded intrusive and incongruous by residents of surrounding streets.

Residents of the estate off Strongbridge Close have lived in buildings plagued by mould, rising damp and electrical faults since the fire.

The estate was built in the 1970s and asbestos has been detected.

The estate does not meet the "decent homes" standard set by the government.

Mother-of-three Karen Evans has lived on the estate for five years and her children have to share one room.

She said: "I have never lived like this before.

"You wake up and you're depressed.

"I would like the objectors to live in one of these flats, even for two or three days, to see what it is like."

Last week's meeting of the committee was packed with people from the estate and their neighbours in Twyford Road, Wellbeck Road, Elm Grove, Chatsworth Gardens and The Drive.

Opponents handed in a petition of 747 names.

Committee chairman Cllr Camilla Bath found it difficult to control the crowd, calling for silence when opposing residents repeatedly shouted and jeered from the public gallery.

Esther Lathan, who has lived on the estate for more than ten years, handed in a counter petition of 82 names, appealing to the committee for the development to go ahead.

Disappointed with the outcome, she said the meeting degenerated into "mob rule".

"People from the estate felt very intimidated when sitting in the public gallery with all those people opposed to it," Esther said.

It was agreed that Strongbridge residents deserved new homes, but that the plans submitted by the Metropolitan Housing Trust (MHT) were unacceptable.

A seven-storey building, which would be built at the back of the estate, was vehemently opposed by surrounding home owners who felt their privacy would be violated and the increase in residents, from 108 people to around 400, would have a negative impact on the area.

Donna John, 35, who has lived with her family in Strongbridge for 11 years, said: "Everyone is saying the homes are under standard but we still have to stay here.

"We are human beings. Regardless of what residents around us think, we all work, we are not spongers off the state."

Her sentiments were shared by a neighbour who said: "I am a chippy by trade. We are not on the dole, we all work."

The fire was caused by an electrical fault and residents fear there will be another one if something is not done.

The buildings have fallen into such serious disrepair that maintenance work is no longer enough.

Kay Rickwood, 40, and her daughters, Emma, nine, and Zoe, six, face a constant fight to rid their home of thick black mould coating the walls of the bedrooms and bathrooms.

Kay, a dinnerlady at Grange First and Middle School, said: "None of the locks work on the windows, it is so cold in the winter and as soon as I see mould I have to wipe it away so it doesn't spread.

"I am so gutted the plan was rejected.

"We just want a new flat, I know these things take time but this is ridiculous."

A statement from the objectors read: "The decision will postpone the redevelopment further but those opposing the development believe that this represents a failure by the landlord MHT to provide a planning proposal which balanced the need for housing against the needs of the community and the limitations of the site."

Phyllida Culpin, assistant director of MHT said: "The decision of the committee is extremely disappointing for both us and our residents, who will have to continue to live in sub standard accommodation.

"MHT will be considering its formal position urgently but we are so convinced of our case that we are very likely to go to appeal."

sanand@london.newsquest.co.uk