RESIDENTS will be given the chance to question a council over plans to convert a £1.25m property into a retreat for families from London.

Hackney Council wants to turn a house in Bagley Wood Road, Kennington, into a property offering “families at risk of breakdown” somewhere to stay for about three weeks.

The authority has been given the money to buy the house from the Department for Education and has applied to the Vale of White Horse District Council for change its use.

Hackney spokeswoman Helen Clarke said: “We chose the property because it ticked all of the boxes.

“It is completely different from where the families are living now and there will be no distractions because it is so rural, which means it’ll be a real break for them.”

Up to three families could stay at the house at any one time and Mrs Clarke said there would always be at least one member of staff in the property with them.

Some residents have objected to the plan, with about 40 registering their comments with the district council.

Parish council chairman Colin Charlett said concerns were raised at a “heated” parish council on Tuesday.

He said: “I was definitely surprised by the number of objections, we have no reason to judge these families before they move in.”

He said the council saw no valid planning grounds on which to object to the proposal.

But it has asked the district council to make sure that any CCTV cameras at the home did not overlook neighbouring properties or the road and to make sure the number of families was not increased.

Bagley Wood Road resident Brian Cooper, 81, said: “I think most of us feel uncomfortable with the situation as we’re very uninformed on what is going on.”

Matthew Batstone, who is campaigning against the conversion, said: “The proposal is a profligate use of public money in what is supposed to be a time of austerity. This property is completely unsuitable.”

Susan Gregson, who also lives in Bagley Wood Road, said: “My husband and I are particularly worried about how the sewage system in the area will cope “As far as I am aware, none of the houses on this road are linked up to a main sewage system.”

Steve Kenny, who owns the house, said he felt everything had been “blown out of proportion”.

He added: “Everyone is happy for these projects to go ahead but they have a ‘not on my doorstep’ attitude, which just isn’t fair.”

Hackney Council said yesterday it would be visiting the parish council on Monday to explain the situation to residents.

Villagers will be able to ask questions at the meeting.