Residents have launched a petition to oppose a scheme by Luminus housing association to knock down 26 properties on The Whaddons and Thongsley in Huntingdon and replace them with a mix of flats, houses and new bungalows.

Campaigners are angry at the scale of the development, which they have estimated will result in 96 new houses and flats, and have so far collected more than 80 signatures opposing the scheme which was announced in mid-July.

Joanne Santillo, of The Whaddons, is leading the campaign and explained the main concerns are loss of green space, including Thongsley Green, density of housing, access and parking.
Mrs Santillo said:"We are serious about this. It's impractical what they are trying to do and we are the ones who are going to lose out yet again. We're just fed up with it.

"It's too many houses in a small place and they are taking away our parking spaces and giving them to the new buildings. They are also taking away the green space that our children play on.
"We will do whatever it takes because all the areas are just getting filled up and they are just ignoring us. I appreciate they need more houses but there are ways and means of doing it."
Luminus, who have launched a consultation with tenants and are hoping to bring the new homes into use by autumn 2010, say some of the existing homes have cracks in the floor and it is not economical to repair them.

Executive director for operations at Luminus Nigel Finney said: "We have an opportunity to provide better accommodation and improve the quality of parking and green spaces for residents.
"We want to work closely with our tenants to explain the proposal and give them reassurance about the support we will give them."

Cllr Jeff Dutton, district councillor for Huntingdon North and Oxmoor Champion for the council, said he contacted the residents about the scheme after fears that not all relevant residents had been consulted.
He said: "An artist's impression of what the area could look like was sent to selected affected or interested parties, not to every resident who I believe must be affected by any new development.
"The residents believe that this is gross over-development of this small piece of land, development that will deprive the area of large amounts of green areas."
>> If you would like to sign the petition visit www.pbase.com/joannes/whaddons