THE demolition of four high rise flats will "decimate" the Netherton community, a distressed resident has claimed.

Hundreds of people face being rehoused as Dudley Council plans to pull down Arley, Wells, Compton and Manor Courts.

The proposals, which were backed by the council's cabinet at a meeting on Wednesday, follow a review of the council's housing stock.

To bring the blocks up to scratch, the authority would need to spend around £9.1million compared to the £3million it would cost to demolish the buildings and compensating tenants and leaseholders.

Ken Parsons, who has lived at Compton Court for 36 years and previously spent 14 years living at Wells Court, said he was shocked to hear of the plans.

"The council has been very vague about what will happen," he said.

"I don't believe they will get everybody rehomed in Netherton, there's not enough empty properties. We could end up going to Stourbridge or Halesowen.

"This is going to decimate the Netherton community. There are families who have lived here all their lives.

"In Compton and Wells Courts there's a lot of older people who won't want to move - I'm one of them."

The 64-year-old continued: "The flats are what you make them - they're a bit run down and lack modernisation and the odd lift breaks down but my flat's ok."

Councillor Gaye Partridge, cabinet member for housing, said every option had been "considered and fully explored" before demolition was proposed.

She said a third of the properties in Netherton were empty but acknowledged those that weren't were "homes where there are real communities of long standing".

“It’s regrettable that a consequence of this decision means people will have to leave their homes," she continued.

"It is a life-changing decision. As a council we will do more than what is reasonably expected of us with dealing with the consequences.”

Cllr Partridge said tenants would be spoken to about relocation, adding: "We'd like to get as many people as we can where they would like to be.

The demolition plans will be discussed by the council's place scrutiny committee in September before going before full council in October.