PEOPLE living on a vandal-hit estate they say looks like something from the "Blitz" have failed in their attempt to win council tax and rent reductions.

City of York Council chiefs said residents living in Tedder Road, Slessor Road and Salmond Road, Acomb, could not have a rent and council tax reduction to reflect the state of their streets.

Tenants had put in a petition to the council objecting to the condition of privately-owned, boarded-up homes.

They said the high number of properties in that state attracted vandals, and the gardens were also overgrown.

They protested that properties had not yet been demolished as promised. The homes, formerly owned by the Ministry of Defence, have been bought by Malton-based building company S Harrison Development for more than £15 million.

Under the terms of the deal Harrison will build 148 new homes to replace 57 empty and boarded-up homes and 40 rundown council houses. But the project, which has not started yet, is not expected to be completed until 2004.

Council officers said that legal advice given to the authority meant the council could not offer a rent reduction.

That could only be paid if the council had breached its obligations to tenants. However, a council report said that because the empty homes were not owned by the council, the council was not responsible for their condition.

Councillors have pledged to write to residents noting the petition and acknowledging their concerns.

They have also adopted a proposal by Liberal Democrat Coun David Livesley urging Harrison's to make "an immediate start" on demolition and security fences.

Council officers are now to bring forward proposals that would minimise disturbance to people as the demolition and development work takes place.

Lib Dem leader Coun Steve Galloway said: "This is over two years (since residents first complained). It is scarcely surprising that our tenants are increasingly irritated by an apparent lack of progress."

Coun Ruth Potter, executive member for housing, said: "You have to have sympathy with people living in this area. Sadly we can't offer the compensation that residents are requesting in their petition."

A Harrison spokeswoman said: "Of course, we understand the frustrations of those who want to see matters quickly resolved at Tedder Road.

"As the driving force behind the regeneration, we are as keen as anyone to get started on site. However, until the final legal details are resolved, we are not able to start work. We are optimistic that the final obstacles will be removed, literally within days."

Updated: 10:03 Friday, December 06, 2002