RESIDENTS are demanding action to tackle problems on their housing estate.

They say community spirit is being eroded on Kidsgrove’s Galleys Bank estate because of a rise in empty homes linked to absentee landlords.

And a constant turnover of tenants means there is lack of ‘neighbourly atmosphere’.

Now families are planning to re-form their disbanded residents’ association to try to improve conditions on the estate.

Councillor Margaret Astle, who lives in nearby Sussex Drive, said: “Some of the houses are not finding new tenants anymore and I think we are going to end up in a situation where properties are left derelict and boarded up.

“Community spirit is being eroded and something needs to be done.”

Problems on the 450-home estate focus on its Schindler ex-Coal Board homes which were built with a limited time-span.

Some of the pre-cast concrete homes, which were put up in the 1950s, have structural problems which has stopped banks lending money to prospective buyers.

This has led to landlords buying the properties at auction but failing to maintain them.

Home ownership on the estate is shared between absentee landlords, social landlord Aspire Housing and private ownership.

Mrs Astle added: “A house could become empty on a Thursday and the following morning there will be a new tenant.

“As a result local spirit has suffered and people have been worried about not knowing who their neighbours might be.”

In 2007, Government agency Renew North Staffordshire brought in developer Keepmoat to carry out a housing market assessment on the estate.

It listed the estate as a medium to long-term concern.

But Renew has now disbanded in the face of Government cutbacks and some of problems on the estate remain.

The issue is regularly raised at the monthly Kidsgrove Town Council meetings and Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley is also involved in talks.

Newcastle Borough Council officials today pledged to take enforcement action against problem landlords.

Neale Clifton, executive director for regeneration and development, said: “We are aware of a small number of empty homes on the estate and will use enforcement powers where possible to address any complaints we receive.

“We have worked hard with homeowners, landlords and Renew North Staffordshire to improve the area. While Renew funding is no longer available because it ended last year, and public funding is tight, we continue to look for alternative sources.

“We forced landlords, where needed, to carry out £100,000 of improvements on 60 homes, refurbished and brought back into use a long-term empty home in Victoria Avenue and held four tidy-up days.

“There are a relatively high number of private rented Schindler houses because most lenders won’t provide mortgages on them.

“We encourage tenants who are reluctant to report disrepair through fear of eviction to contact us and we will do everything we can to help.”