A MUM-of-three has criticised council bosses after they warned her home could be demolished – then changed their minds.

Karen Gaskell, who has lived in the block of flats on the north side of Underhill Circus for nearly five years, said she was ‘disgusted’ at how Oxford City Council handled the situation.

The 55-year-old was told in August her flat could be flattened as part of work to regenerate the area and has sold and boxed up some of her possessions in preparation.

As part of this she was told she would be in ‘band one’ priority to get a new home and hoped to rent a new council flat in Barton Park.

Ms Gaskell’s current flat has damp and mould and she has already sold off and given away furniture, including her bed.

But in a letter this week the city council said it was no longer set to go ahead.

She said: “It’s absolutely disgusting the way they have treated us. We are now not moving and I’m sat here with boxes around me. Three people have already moved out. I don’t know what to do.”

The former barmaid claimed she had been in line to receive about £5,800 in compensation.

The city council defended its actions and said it would have been ‘wrong’ not to warn residents of its early plan.

Head of housing Stephen Clarke added: “As the residents of the block are no longer faced with the demolition, we are not requiring them to move. The council remains committed to improving the Barton area and will continue with its plans to demolish the central area and provide new homes and shops. “