DISMAYED Hadleigh residents have spoken of their concern after they received letters telling them their homes might have to make way for a superstore.The letters revealed Babergh District Council's local plan task group had recommended Hadleigh's council-run car park in Magdalen Road should be included in the revised Local Plan as a site for a superstore.

DISMAYED Hadleigh residents have spoken of their concern after they received letters telling them their homes might have to make way for a superstore.

The letters revealed Babergh District Council's local plan task group had recommended Hadleigh's council-run car park in Magdalen Road should be included in the revised Local Plan as a site for a superstore.

If the idea proved feasible after further investigation, it would mean demolishing about 23 houses in Inkerman Close and Inkerman Terrace, which back onto the car park.

Many of the mostly elderly residents of the two streets have lived in their council homes for years.

John Barber, 75, who lives in Inkerman Terrace with his wife Valerie, said he had had a sleepless night after receiving the letter.

"I just stood there, stunned. Many people have raised their families here and have all their memories here," he added.

"It will also affect the old people in the sheltered houses in George Street and Angel Street whose gardens border the car park and both are part of the conservation area. What will the uncertainty do to the value of our homes?"

His neighbours Brian and Margaret Jack, both 70, live in a house still owned by the council.

"I was disgusted really. It's quite concerning when you don't know what's going on. It's going to be unsettling until a decision's made," said Mr Jack.

Margaret Tatum, 89, has lived in her council house in Inkerman Close since 1957 after moving from London.

"I don't want to be uprooted at my age. I think it's ridiculous to think they might pull all these houses down after spending such a lot of money on improving them," she said.

Four years ago Mrs Tatum's neighbours Ivy and John Mann, 71 and 73, decided to buy the house they had lived in for 41 years and where they had raised their family.

The couple have just had a new conservatory built on the back of their immaculate home.

Mrs Tatum said: "It's really worrying. It makes you wonder whether you have done the right thing buying the house."

Many of the residents are now writing letters expressing their disapproval to Babergh District Council and said they would turn up at Thursday's meeting of its strategy committee, where the proposal will be discussed.