THE lack of research over the possible consequences of the Morecambe regeneration plan is lamentable.

Surely there are a few basic things you need to know before you expel the residents of 183 buildings.

For instance, the first thing you need to know is what sort of houses they are - but it has been admitted that the council does not have up-to-date evidence of the occupancy status of the designated houses.

As everyone who lives here knows, people have been flooding into the area to buy cheap multi-occupancy houses to convert to family homes. But because the planning department charges £300 to change a registration, most people simply don't bother to register.

Geraldine Smith MP has stated that although the houses may have been converted to single occupancy they could be changed back at any time this is another example of sloppy thinking.

It would not be unthinkable to check the planning registration details of properties against the electoral register, nor would it be unthinkable to make registration in the effected area free certainly it would be cheaper than wasting £20 million on not getting the result you want.

And if you do not know who is living in the properties which are designated, how are you going to know the overall effect of the scheme?

£15,000 was spent paying consultancies to apply for the privilege of earning good money designing the scheme but so far nothing has been spent on looking at what the social consequences of an ill-conceived plan will be.

Chas Ambler, Morecambe.