COUNCIL tenants who thought that their dilapidated homes would soon be turned into luxury apartments are facing disappointment.

Although the City Council has access to millions of pounds of Government regeneration cash, they won't be able to start the work until next year - because Plymouth hasn't enough builders to do the work.

Only two members of the public turned up at a public meeting in High Street Primary School to hear about the future of Millbay Docks and housing sites across Stonehouse.

They were told that more than £6.5million had already been spent on restoring council apartments in the deprived St Peters' ward, with a further £3.5million earmarked to refurbish slum-conditioned buildings with new energy-efficient insulation, better roofs, windows, and stairways.

But the scheme, which also features new security systems, fencing, new lights, and central heating, will have to be stalled until 2003, because of the lack of local builders.

Admitted Gary French, team co-ordinator in charge of the regeneration of South Stonehouse: 'There are going to be delays in refurbishing council blocks because of the lack of building contractors in Plymouth.

'Because of approved lists and council rules, we are experiencing major problems and need more local builders to come forward.'

Resident David Lillicrap, who was one of the two people at the meeting, told the Sunday Independent: 'I went there to represent my elderly mother whose flat is constantly leaking with rain water, damp and other problems.

'I am very angry that she and other tenants will now have to wait until next year before the flats are modernised.

'If the council looks in Yellow Pages it will find plenty of builders who could do the work.'

Another local resident added: 'Locals did not bother to turn up because they are fed up with the council. Nothing gets done in our area, and quite frankly, apathy rules.'

The City Council recently published a Millbay Area Regeneration Strategy in which it sought ideas from local residents to add to a new vision for Millbay Docks; the old Vospers area, and the Military Marine barracks.

Said Labour councillor Mark King: 'People in St Peters are fed up with the public consultation burn-outs and talking.

'They want action from the council, and delays because of the lack of building contractors is appalling.

'I shall be questioning city officials over this matter at an area committee forum, which I chair, to speed up this process.'

Interested in becoming one of the building contractors in the Plymouth area wanting to tender for Stonehouse regeneration projects? Then contact Gary French, team leader of projects, at Plymouth City Council on Plymouth (01752) 304650 - and tell him you saw it in your Indy!

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