ELDERLY residents are living in fear of losing their homes in Barnton.

Weaver Vale Housing Trust met with Oakwood House occupants on Wednesday morning to discuss how much investment was needed to maintain the building.

Over the past six months residents have been worried about their future after eight people were moved to alternative accommodation.

Pauline Kelly, 70, who lives at Oakwood House, told the Guardian the trust was unable to offer any assurances to residents at the meeting.

Pauline, who has lived in Barnton her entire life, said: “They’re getting rid of residents one by one. They’re getting the flats empty. They must have a reason for it.

“I’m 70. It’s peaceful here. At my age I don’t feel like packing everything up to go and live somewhere else.

“I am upset. I have my flat beautiful. I’ve done a bit at a time to make it really nice. I’ve really worked hard on it. I feel terrible.”

Pauline said a number of residents asked Weaver Vale representatives during the meeting whether they could expect to be evicted in the autumn, though came out of the meeting none-the-wiser.

“They won’t say whether they want to close this place down,” the 70-year-old said.

“We had the meeting and people were asking them but they didn’t know.

“I said ‘who does know then?’ They said they ‘didn’t really know’.”

A Weaver Vale Housing Trust spokesman said they were ‘unable to confirm the outcome of the building appraisal at this time’.

However, the spokesman told the Guardian a final decision will be made by the autumn.

“We regularly hold residents meetings with customers of Oakwood House, one of our nine Independent Retirement Apartments for the over 55s,” the spokesman said.

“The residents meeting held this morning was to talk about the nature and scale of investment needed to maintain the structure of the building.

“Options regarding the building are beginning to be looked at and a final decision will be made by the autumn.

“Until then, we will continue to work with all customers at all times, to ensure they are kept fully up to date with any proposals.”