Tenants of Anchorage Road, St. George's homes slated for sale by the Bermuda Housing Corporation yesterday appealed to be allowed to stay.

The residents agreed that renovations to the property were necessary, but pleaded that they had nowhere to go once the homes were take over for renovations prior to the sale.

They said politicians had recently spoken with them, including local MP and former Premier Jennifer Smith.

Last Thursday, the Development Applications Board approved the BHC's plans to to increase the size of the four buildings by creating additional bedrooms, bathrooms, stairs and water tanks to each unit.

Tenant Althea Iris, 46, said: "MPs are fighting so that we don't have to move. We spoke to one of the MP's last week. The new Housing Minister came to find out what our consensus was down here.

"We told him we are happy where we are. Most of us have been moved around like rabbits."

Mrs. Iris said that she was tired of being a football bounced from one parish to the next.

"Many of us don't have the energy to fight it. They have nowhere for us to go. We feel displaced and insecure. They called to let us know that they had already moved three families. This is affecting my self-esteem.

"People like us should play a larger part in the planning process.

"It's a matter of courtesy. Developing value in people. My husband always says, 'encouragement sweetens labour'. If people thought they could own their own home, they might work harder."

Concerned residents, who did not wish to be named, said that they could do with an extra bedroom as they had two teenage boys living there.

"It sounds good. But the rents would probably increase. So that is our concern.

"There's no affordable housing here. Rents are horrendous on this Island."

A senior citizen who used to live next door has already been moved to Cedar Park.

Robert Smith, 53, has lived at Anchorage Road for the last six years.

He put up his porch himself, because he was afraid the old one would fall down.

"These places have to be renovated. But I don't think they should renovate and move people out.

"If they renovate, the rents will go up and most of us will not be able to afford it.

"We are average working people, getting from pay cheque to pay cheque."

"Nobody wants to leave. It's quiet here."