OPPONENTS of a plan to transfer assets from a Wirral housing association to a Liverpool organisation claim they are being railroaded into accepting the scheme - and warn they won't give up without a fight.

Liverpool Housing Trust wants to take over management of assets of Beechwood and Ballantyne Community Housing Association for five years.

The proposal was recommended for approval when Wirral’s ruling cabinet met on May 28.

But after a 250-name petition was received half-an-hour before the meeting from residents concerned about the takeover, the decision was postponed pending discussions with protestors.

Now the estate's community trust appears locked on collision course with the council.

Linda Finn, chairwoman of Beechwood Community Trust, told the Globe: "I would like Beechwood’s assets to stay in Wirral and I'm a bit annoyed we weren't involved in early negotiations.

“It would be nice if the community had a choice - but we feel as if we're being pushed into this and we’re going to fight the merger plan.

“For me, it’s the fact that community buildings will be owned by a body in Liverpool which doesn’t know anything about the area.

“LHT don’t do communities, they do neighbourhoods. Too much hard work has been put into this estate by volunteers to see it all taken away. It would be heartbreaking.”

Eileen Turner, 82, has lived on the estate since 1979 - when if was known as the Ford - and was a member of the community association until three years ago.

She said: “We are not going to give the assets up without a fight.

“We're told LHT have a five-year plan for the estate. But what happens after that? Who knows?”

A questionnaire showed the majority of tenants are supportive of the transfer on the understanding that services they presently receive are not compromised.

Fiona Wilkie, Acting Lead Officer at BBCHA, said: "We understand change like this can be unsettling for residents.

"However, we have consulted widely with the community and have listened and responded to feedback.

"The possible transfer to Liverpool Housing Trust will mean we can secure better services for BBCHA tenants, continue future investment in their homes and the wider community, and attract more resources to improve the area, including the building of much-needed new homes.

"In these times of austerity, it's not unusual for smaller housing associations to go through this process. We are making this decision for the long-term prosperity of the BBCHA area."

Andy Williams, director of Neighbourhood Services at LHT, said: "LHT has a 50-year track record of providing homes and investing in the communities and neighbourhoods where we work.

"We already provide 489 homes on the Wirral and have been operating here for many, many years.

"We see this as a fantastic long-term opportunity to invest and further improve the BBCHA community.

"There would be no question of LHT walking away from the estate after five years – and local consultation that we have been party to has been overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed merger."