TOWN Hall bosses have been forced to apologise to residents on four East End estates for failing to protect them in a Housing Choice transfer. Housing councillor Marc Francis has admitted Tower Hamlets council failed to properly protect the interests

TOWN Hall bosses have been forced to apologise to residents on four East End estates for failing to protect them in a Housing Choice transfer.

Housing councillor Marc Francis has admitted Tower Hamlets council failed to "properly protect the interests" of neighbours living on the Samuda, St John's, Barkantine and Kingsbridge estates when they were transferred to Island Homes four years ago.

Neighbours on the Isle of Dogs estates have been rowing with directors of Island Homes' parent group One Housing after all of the residents on the housing board were fired last year.

But it has now emerged that the offer document, which residents originally voted on during the transfer and included the promise of a resident-majority board, was not included in the legal agreement when the estates were transferred.

At the full council meeting, resident Jenny Fisher said: "We are suggesting the council uses this opportunity to recognise that the Housing Choice process has failed and if you don't want egg on your face as a council, we ask you to support the resolution that promises can be restored."

A spokeswoman for One Housing said there were currently five residents and five independent members on the board but another resident would be recruited from the Barkantine Estate in January.