Liberal Democrat Councillor for the East Marsh Steve Beasant has said he fears for residents who could be displaced by Shoreline’s proposals to demolish to the East Marsh High-Rise Flats.

Steve a member of North East Lincolnshire Council met with affected residents yesterday, after finding out about the plans on Wednesday night, just hours after residents had been given letters that afternoon.

He said he was angered that he was not informed of the plans sooner, leaving him with “no answers” for worried residents who were calling him.

Speaking outside Garibaldi House, he said: “Some residents have lived here since 1964 and have live here ever since; they don’t want to be displaced.

“I want to listen to the residents now and to see what they want. I am in favour of whatever they want, and I won’t commit either way until I have listened to their views.

“Many residents love living here and I cannot see Shoreline building new houses round here.

“If people are going to be displaced to Immingham, Waltham, Humberston, Scartho or wherever else, then then they are going to lose their sense of community. I know many people in their 70s, 80s and even some in their 90s who love these flats and when they moved here they expected it to be their last – now they will have to face up to an enormous upheaval!

“People like this area because it is close to Freeman Street, to the shops, the market and we have well connected bus routes.

“Many local businesses are just getting back on their feet, and this decision will have an enormous impact on them, too. Many of them are now thriving who would lose many customers because, let’s face it, people live here are more likely to spend their money in this area and when they have gone they might not come back.

“I am concerned that they (Shoreline), have not given this serious thought.

He added: “But what really anger me is they send their letters out on Thursday morning and afternoon but I didn’t receive notification officially until 7pm, and this was after receiving many telephone calls – for which I had no answers. This is an important issue – we are talking about a community and people’s lives.”