A COMPLETE overhaul of one of Oxford's five tower blocks has been welcomed by local councillors – though some residents are still concerned with the new design, calling new pipes 'unsightly.'

Refurbishment work at the Plowman tower at Westlands Drive, Northway, began last month, with plans unveiled at a public exhibition on Thursday.

The scheme is part of a £20m project which includes the renovation of tower blocks at Evenlode and Windrush, in Blackbird Leys; Hockmore in Cowley; and Foresters in Wood Farm.

Contractors Fortem are carrying out the work on behalf of Oxford City Council.

City councillor for Northway, Nigel Chapman said of the scheme: “They need a major refurbishment. It is going to put 30 years of life to these flats.

“It has been a long time coming and its part of a whole series of developments going on in this part of Northway. I think it will really improve the building.

“I have had a lot of consultations and meetings with residents and they have been waiting for this to happen.

“They are generally really pleased it is happening.”

Fellow councillor Farida Anwar added: “It is a really good project and the residents deserve it.

“Of course there are some people that don’t like changes but I think it is high time to improve their houses.

“I have been a councillor here for three years and I wanted it to happen a long time ago. We always wanted it to be done.”

Work has now begun on the complete refurbishment which will include new windows and residents will have their old heating systems replaced with new electrical panel heaters, as well as new sprinklers installed throughout.

There are 290 flats across all five of the towers, most of which are used by council tenants.

At the public session on Thursday not all residents were pleased with the new designs, however, and there were some concerns raised.

One resident who preferred not to be named said that the new sprinkler system which is protected by large white piping looked ‘industrial.’

She said: “I don’t like it at all, would you like that pipe going through your floor?

“The pipe looks like an industrial style of sprinkler, and not for a home. I don’t like anything about it.”

Another resident, also preferring to remain anonymous, said: “I don’t like the piping that will go through the room.

“I think if they could find something else for that I would be pleased with the project otherwise.”

All of the work is expected to be completed at the Westlands Drive tower block by November 24.

There are 290 flats across all five of the towers, most of which are used by council tenants.