RESIDENTS of Platt Hill claim they have been abandoned after their landlord announced a £1.25 million redevelopment plan for a Breightmet estate -- despite ongoing problems in their own area.

Members of the Sutton Residents Association, which campaigns on behalf of people living in homes managed by the William Sutton Trust in Platt Hill, near Hunger Hill, are furious that the Long Lane estate in Breightmet has been chosen to receive a facelift.

Secretary of the Residents Association, Michael Godding, who has been fighting to have the area revamped for three years, cannot understand why Platt Hill has been excluded from a list of 19 William Sutton Trust estates earmarked for extensive redevelopment.

Mr Godding, aged 45, of Cressingham Road, said: "There have been serious problems here for at least three years.

"Young people congregate by the shops every night and cause trouble. The community centre is always getting covered in graffiti and we have been asking for CCTV for years.

"Everyone here feels very frustrated that the money has not been shared out between the estates.

"We don't need as much as £1.25 million, but money does need to be spent here and if we could only get £100,000 it would make a big difference on this estate."

The Long Lane estate will receive the investment to improve parking, lighting and play facilities.

It is hoped such improvements will reduce crime and a community development worker will be dedicated to the estate to help residents take more control of their neighbourhood.

The Trust is also aiming to encourage residents to stay on the estate which has been blighted by social problems in recent years.

A three-year study was carried out by leading housing experts and part funded by the Government to find out the reason for empty properties, using information supplied by residents.

When the investment plans were announced for the Long Lane estate, William Sutton Trust's housing director Judith Winterbourne said difficulties at Platt Hill had been flash points rather than serious and ongoing problems.

But the Trust say they will now be speaking to the Platt Hill tenants directly about their concerns.