HOUSING bosses are under fire after they abandoned plans to spend almost £5m on upgrading rundown streets in Broomhill.

Councillor Colin Jackson has hit out over the decision by River Clyde Homes and says they have failed to deliver on promises.

He spoke out after discovering that key environment work to be carried out in stages as part of a regeneration programme will not go ahead.

Residents had made it clear to River Clyde Homes from the start that improving the open spaces and surrounding areas was one of their biggest priorities.

River Clyde Homes has repeatedly highlighted the success of its project to upgrade housing in Broomhill but its plans for environmental work have been quietly dropped.

Councillor Jackson said: "They had promised a £4.8 million project.

"But the tenders for stage four to eight were cancelled.

"Now the majority of Broomhill might never see the work complete.

"I met with housing bosses and I asked them three times to tell me where the money had been spent instead.

"I was just told that like any other organisation they have financial priorities.

"But they promised the residents - they had meetings and showed them plans.

"Now they are not delivering on that promise.

"River Clyde Homes never told anyone.

"I found out and had to pursue them."

The u-turn means areas like Mill Street have now been left behind while other places like Ann Street and Dempster Street have been upgraded.

Residents told the Tele they'd hoped there would be better open spaces for the community to enjoy.

Local man Ryan Robertson, 39, of Mill Street, said: "I am really disappointed.

"We were promised it would all be sandblasted but now it is all going to be left as it is."

Councillor Jackson added: "For me this is about legacy and the people of Broomhill have been let down."

Bosses at RCH recently celebrated a report by University of Stirling which looked at the regeneration work on the estate.

It praised new biomass heating systems, internal and external upgrading of housing and a turnaround in letting rates.

There were also signs that crime and anti-social behaviour had fallen.

But the same report noted that environmental works were incomplete and stated that River Clyde Homes would need to ensure their completion if the work carried out was to prove sustainable in the longer term sustainability.

It stated: "There was some concern that without continuing investment in completing and maintaining external environment works, the overall regeneration project would be incomplete."

Management at RCH say they will continue to review plans for the estate.

Jonathan Grant, interim head of assets at the housing association, said: “River Clyde Homes’ £30m Broomhill regeneration programme has been independently assessed as a success story for the Broomhill community.

"We have completed a £500k project to improve the landscaping at Broomhill this year.

"We will continue to work with the Broomhill community and other partners to review plans for the continuation of our environmental improvements in future years.”