LABOUR councillors in a local authority at the centre of “land grab” allegations in a long-running row over a “ghetto” housing estate have faced criticism from homeowners after they were offered a new financial offer.

It came after West Lothian Council (WLC) approved the increased financial deal for homeowners in Deans South, Livingston, in a bid to complete the regeneration of the estate.

Eleanor Jarvis, one of the homeowners, told the Sunday National: “I had to laugh at the Labour manifesto. In their Homes For The Many section they quote: ‘For Labour housing is a social justice issue. Increasing the number of affordable homes is key priority for Labour.’ They clearly are not familiar with their own policy. We had terrific support from the two SNP councillors and four Conservative councillors… Not one Labour councillor asked a single question.”

Deans South first hit the headlines in 2004, when a report into some properties there identified problems with the use of Siporex, a lightweight precast concrete, during their construction. This suggested potential for structural defects in the properties, 85 of which were privately owned.

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Homeowners said “no houses fell down”, although WLC allowed the estate to deteriorate, removed guttering from empty properties and allowed water to penetrate the buildings.

Between 2004-09 more than 30 owners sold their properties to Castle Rock/Edinvar Housing Association.

Jarvis said: “Unoccupied properties were supposed to be left wind and watertight, but this was clearly not the case due to the removal of down pipes and guttering. The community was broken up and we were left in a ghetto estate. WLC has never addressed the human suffering, mental anguish and despair that this unique situation created for all the homeowners.”

In 2010, WLC said it was planning to issue compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to allow it to redevelop Deans South, but the process was stopped following a public inquiry.

Over the next four years, WLC indicated it wished to buy from Castle Rock the homes it had bought from the owners and when it secured properties any complete, vacant terraces were demolished.

Springfield Properties, one of Scotland’s leading builders, offered the remaining 10 owners like-for-like homes in exchange for their old properties. It bought one property, leaving nine in private hands and 46 derelict council properties over eight terraces.

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Springfield made a further offer in 2017 – building owners a “home for a home” in exchange for signing over their title deeds.

Six owners agreed and three did not – and the offer closed last August.

“Springfield are a brilliant company and we would love for them to build us a new home so we can move on with our lives, but WLC want our houses and land for next to nothing and cause more years of uncertainty and misery,” said Jarvis.

Another owner added: “Over the 15 years we have sought help from councillors, MSPs and MPs of all parties, we have sought assistance from the Scottish Government, however they state that as the problem was of WLC’s making then it is for them to resolve.”

The council has said it will not progress with compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) “at this time”, and a further report would be brought back to the WLC executive.

Labour Councillor George Paul, the executive member for services to the community, said: “West Lothian Council wishes to see the successful completion of the regeneration of the Deans South estate, building upon the success of Phase 1 and protecting the existing and immediate planned investment on the estate.”

Jarvis, though, was unrepentant: “We will continue in our fight for justice for the homeowners of Deans South who already have a solution which is being taken away from us. We are the political pawns of this Labour administration in West Lothian Council.”