Hugh Casey the developments officer with Shankill Community Association, was familiar with the tenants as he had cause to visit them.

He claimed the people in the flats at Drumlin Drive and Monbrief Walk were being treated unfairly.

Improvements were being made to the flats and one of the major changes was to do away with the communal halls and doorways.

While not completely satisfied with the changes the improvements made Mr Casey more concerned at the welfare of tenants during the work.

“As part of our service we offer these people help and advice, for very often they have no-one else to talk to,” he said.

“I was shocked when I saw the conditions these people were being forced to live in with work going on very close to them. The renovations should never have been undertaken with people still living in the blocks. It is insensitive of the Executive to make them live in these conditions.”

He called on the Executive and social workers to ensure that the practice of carrying out renovation while people are still living in the blocks should not allowed to go on.

“The people who live in these flats should be treated with the dignity they deserve,” he said. “They seem to be getting poor treatment.”

But Ian Elliot , area information officer explained the Executive’s position on the matter saying that while tenants had been informed to the scheme, some were reluctant to move.

“We planned to refurbish six flats at a time and re-house the people involved, but certain difficulties were encountered and some were not keen to leave,” he said.

“However, we appear to have overcome that and are working as quickly and efficiently on the improvement scheme as possible. Hopefully it will be concluded in the near future and we are grateful for the co-operation of the tenants.”