ANGRY Broadway residents claim they fear losing their garages owned by Pershore and Evesham Rooftop housing group to make way for a new development.

But Rooftop claim the site has been sold to Chase Homes who plan to build 12 flats with 13 car park spaces next to the youth club gates because the garages have been empty for years.

At a meeting last Saturday at Broadway Youth Club residents claimed Rooftop had evicted them from the garages to pave the way for the housing scheme which has been submitted to Wychavon District Council.

Dave Roberts, who has rented a garage in Sheldon Avenue since 1962, received a letter from Rooftop last October informing him to quit the building in one month.

Mr Roberts, of Sandscroft Avenue, Broadway, said: "I received a letter from Rooftop stating it was a formal notice to quit the garage contract with them. I feel quite hard done by. I've rented the garage since 1962 and now they're selling it to build more houses. Rooftop claim the garages have been empty for some time but given the choice I would still use the garage for my car."

Alan Smith, of Sheldon Avenue, also rents a garage from Rooftop. He said: "I'm furious that I can no longer use the garage. I now have to park my car outside my home."

Pershore and Evesham Rooftop's development director, Mary Aston, said: "As part of our asset management strategy we regularly review our property holdings and this garage court has been constantly highlighted as having high void levels and lost income to the association. Not only can Rooftop provide housing by way of building Shared Ownership properties, we can also reduce the aesthetic impact of an old and unused council garage site that's not cost effective to keep."