THE future of the West Kensington and Gibbs Greens Estates is set to be determined on Monday (3), with councillors expected to approve their demolition as part of the redevelopment of Earls Court.

Officers have recommended the authority's cabinet signs a land sale agreement with developers Capco to rebuild the area, knocking down the estates and the exhibition centres and creating four 'urban villages' of shops, a school, new transport links and 7,500 new flats.

Fiercely opposed residents have vowed to go to the top of government to get the scheme thrown out if gets the green light. More than 800 people are set to lose their homes, with many appalled at the prospect.

Sally Taylor and Diana Belshaw, chairs of the estates' residents' associations, said: "We remain true to the principles of the Big Society, and we stand firm by our belief that local people should take greater charge of where they live so they can exercise more responsibility for their environment and assume better care of their neighbours.

"We occupy the ground, these are our homes, and we shall restore ownership to the local community. Politicians and profiteers may come and go, but we the people shall never surrender."

Some residents are backing the council. Maureen Way says more than 100 people are happy to be moving and said the authority's promise of offering all tenants brand new homes in the area is a good deal.

She said: "After three years of negotiation, we're very happy that the cabinet is finally making a decision on September 3. We hope they make the right choice and include the estates in the wider redevelopment - this will give us and future generations a brighter future."

Council leader Nick Botterill said: "We have said all along the major beneficiaries of this investment have to be the residents living on West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates, followed by the wider area, the borough and London as a whole.

"We will only make a final decision after weighing up all the arguments, looking at the economic studies and the views of our residents. We know many people living on the estates want new homes, while many other people have concerns. If the agreement is signed we will continue to listen to people and do our very best to address those concerns."