SEVEN elderly residents are being evicted from the homes in which they intended to spend the rest of their life.

Neighbours at Waterside Apartments, part of Bridge House in Dawlish, will be given notice to quit by the charity which runs the complex.

All the residents are in their late 70s, 80s and 90s.

One resident, in her 80s explained: ‘I thought I would be here for the long term when I moved in six years ago.

‘Now we are all being made homeless.

‘None or us imagined we would be facing eviction and being uprooted at this stage of our lives.

‘This has been mismanaged and we feel very insecure. This has caused us great stress and anxiety.

‘It has been like the Sword of Damocles hanging over my head.’

Now, trustees of the charity running Bridge House and Waterside apartments have confirmed they will be put up for sale.

Built in 1789, Bridge House, previously known as the Railway Convalescent Home, offered convalescent and breaks to railway and transport workers for more than 100 years.

The flagship home was the last remaining and closed due to declining use and the Covid pandemic in 2020.

The nine Waterside apartments are a block, converted in 2013 and residents had access to facilities at Bridge House until its closure.

A relative of a 91-year-old resident said: ‘They thought they were settled there for life and this has upset them all.

‘What upsets me most is them all having to move at their ages.

‘I don’t know why it can’t be sold with them all still living there.’

There have been complaints about the way the situation has been handled.

Another resident pointed out: ‘They are now a social housing provider and it seems ironic their first action is to evict us.

‘I thought I’d be here for the long term.’

One of the apartments is used as an office with another empty and a third soon to be vacant which some residents see as a ‘deliberate strategy’ to empty Waterside.

Steve Brook, chairman of the rebranded Railway Community Homes, explained that, following a consultation, the charity had changed its objectives with the aim of becoming an Almshouse Charity and provider of social housing.

He said: ‘It was our plan to convert Bridge House into apartments.

‘We have undertaken detailed feasibility design and costing work but sadly, this has ultimately shown the project is not viable with rising costs and constraints imposed by planning and housing authorities

‘We have been in communication with the tenants of Waterside for a number of months to keep them updated.

‘Regrettably, we advised the tenants this does mean we will cease to offer tenancy of the apartments.

‘We recognise this will be an unsettling time for those involved and have committed to providing as much support as possible.

‘There are a range of possibilities regarding how the charity intends to proceed with the delivery of its aims in future, including its future funding strategy and these will emerge in the coming months.

‘Our priority remains the welfare of our tenants and ensuring they’re as supported as possible.

‘We are committed to finding a sustainable future for the buildings which we know are a much-loved part of Dawlish.’