TENANTS on the Wargrave Estate could take legal action against St Helens Borough Council for what they claim are decades of neglect.

A group action on behalf of all residents to enforce outstanding repairs has been launched by St Helens' Trades Union Council.

The organisation alleges that in some cases, problems have got so bad, there are actually trees growing inside the houses. Union leaders are urging tenants to take their claims to solicitors' surgeries to be held at the Trees Community Centre later this month. Those who are not eligible for legal aid will be represented on a no-win no-fee basis.

Union bosses say they want to force the council to carry out repairs and pay tenants compensation for the effect on their quality of life. They say they will take their cases to the County Court if they have to.

This latest call for action comes just a week after plans to hand over 200 houses on the estate to private landlords were given the green light.

Glenn Voris of St Helens' TUC said: "I believe this council has broken the law for failing in its legal obligation to carry out basic repairs over a number of years. Wargrave has been very badly neglected since 1972, and it's in a terrible state. It is now the only estate in the whole borough without central heating.

"Solicitors will invoke the Environmental Protection Act on behalf of tenants suffering from bad health as a result of damp conditions."

"Tenants have asked the council for these repairs time and time again. Things like brickwork, kitchen units and drains all need replacing."

He claimed that in some cases, subsidence is so bad that tenants have to put bricks under the bed to make them level enough to sleep on and some houses literally have trees growing through the concrete.

Spokesman for St Helens Borough Council Chris Carhill said that the council was unable to comment on the possible legal action as it knew nothing about it.

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