BOWES Road residents are preparing for a fight after being told to give up half their gardens or face eviction.

Residents along the north side of the A406 have been handed a new tenancy agreement to sign which includes permission for Notting Hill Housing Trust to seize land at the back.

The trust is planning to build flats and a car park in the space, leaving tenants just 30ft of garden space – less than half what they have now.

Marios Klitou, 42, has lived in his Bowes Road home for the last 28 years and faces losing more than half his garden which he has spent around £20,000 on.

He said: “They are saying we have to sign the new agreement or we will find ourselves homeless.

“We have our hands tied behind our backs and they are forcing us to sign the agreement which we don't agree with.

“These houses may be their bricks and mortar but they are our homes, we live here and I don't think it's fair for them to just come here and take what they want.”

The tenants were told a couple of weeks ago about the clause in the new agreement, says Mr Klitou, who added this issue was not mentioned at any of the meetings earlier in the year when Notting Hill agreed to buy the properties from Enfield Homes.

Mary Adamczyk has lived in her home in Bowes Road for the last 37 years and has organised a petition strongly opposing the housing trust's plans.

She said: “When they told me, I said I would be unhappy about it but I still don't know what our legal position is.

“This has just come out of the blue and it is quite stressful, these are family homes and we need our gardens.”

She has enlisted the help of Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes, who is receiving the petition from residents on Friday and labeled the move by the housing trust as “garden grabbing”.

He said: “This is a massive chunk of their gardens they are being asked to give up, and while it is all good news what they are doing widening the road, I have a real concern about this and that why's I'm going to meet the residents.”

If the land seizure goes ahead, tenants look likely to be left out of pocket as well. Mr Klitou said he asked about possible compensation and was told there would be none.

Emilie Thompson, a spokesman for the housing trust, said plans to regenerate the area had to balance the needs of existing residents and those who will move into the area.

She said: “To ensure that we create the best possible living environment for everyone, it may be necessary to reduce the size of some existing gardens, however, we are currently consulting with local residents, the community and Enfield Council to firm up our specific proposals before submitting them for planning approval, subject to further discussions with the council.

“If we were to claim any land back from gardens, we do so to ensure that residents would benefit from improved rear access roads, surfacing, lighting and parking as well as the removal of fly tipping.”