“NOBODY would want their family to live like this” – those were the words of the daughter of an elderly resident at a sheltered housing scheme where some tenants are unhappy with conditions.

Cambridge House in Dursley, which is run by Stroud District Council (SDC), is scheduled for closure in 2019.

This week some residents and their families gathered to tell the Gazette about their concerns about the scheme, which sees tenants aged 55 and over living in their own apartments with a communal lounge and kitchen, and staff on hand to help them when needed.

Sheila, the daughter of resident Freda Bennett, said: “Everything is jaded and tatty. Nobody would want their family to live like this.”

Live-in wardens who helped the tenants were removed in 2014 and the building is now overseen by a site officer.

Resident Peter Price said: “There used to be lovely staff and services. Now there are no wardens to look after us. What I pay has gone up yet the quality has plummeted.”

Sheila said that if it wasn’t for the relatives of residents visiting them “they would be stuck in a room all day with no entertainment".

The residents have not been told where they will move when Cambridge House closes, and many fear they could end up being placed miles away from their friends and family.

But a SDC spokesman said the council is in the early stages of a 10-year redevelopment programme for all of its 28 sheltered housing schemes and that Cambridge House tenants will get all the support they need to move when it's their turn.

“Other sheltered housing schemes are due to close before Cambridge House, hence they are currently taking priority for house moves, although we are in contact with all residents so that we can keep them informed of any developments to minimise stress and inconvenience to them,” the spokesman said.

Tim Howeley, 64, has been living in Cambridge House for 11 months. He said: “It was built in 1962 and is not fit for purpose so SDC are selling the land off, but moving for older people is very stressful.”

He told the Gazette he was not informed that Cambridge House was due to close when he moved in.

SDC said that was because when Mr Howeley moved in a decision about the future of the scheme had not yet been made.

A council spokesman said: “When the time comes, we will provide a full package of funding and practical assistance to all the residents of Cambridge House.

"This includes working with them to find a new home, arranging and paying for removal costs, paying for new carpets and curtains as well as providing a compensation package worth several thousand pounds.”

Cllr Mattie Ross, chair of the council’s housing committee, said residents from housing schemes due to close before Cambridge House were currently being moved.

She added: “As a council, we are facing huge cuts in how we fund our housing, but despite this we intend to do everything possible to protect the housing services we provide to current and future tenants.”

Eileen Gaisford, 76, a resident at Cambridge House for over 15 years, said: “It never used to like this. It was really lovely, it used to be a pleasant place to live. We had parties and cream teas. The best days have all gone."