Council bosses have been forced to defend themselves after being accused of “forcefully” removing residents’ vehicles from a former garage site in Chalvey.

It comes after Slough Borough Council (SBC) workers turned up in Turton Way in the early hours of yesterday (Monday) morning to remove vehicles they say were on council land.

Angry residents took to Twitter and accused SBC of forcefully removing residents’ vehicles, “using force” against women and elderly men, and even “attacking” residents.

One resident, who calls himself AdillStill on Twitter, wrote: “The residents’ prescribed use of the car park for 20+ years has been taken away by using force. SBC have acted unreasonably and unlawfully.”

And another, simple called ‘Waq’ wrote: “The council decided to bring out 15+ men dressed in black, at 3am to forcefully move residents vehicles.

“Used force against women. Against elderly men. This is the kind of behaviour we should become used to expecting from our local authority. #TurtonWay #disgusting.”

Rashid Mahmood claimed he saw a video where council workers were carrying an elderly man “aggressively and cruelly from arms and legs, and throwing him on the ground”, adding: “Really concerned with his health. Is he all right?”

SBC insisted the cars were parked unlawfully on council land and residents were sent letters in January to inform them of the council’s intention to build council houses on the land.

She also said the work was carried out at night as when the council tried to do it during the day, residents had “placed their children, elderly relatives and other obstructions in the way to ensure we could not access the site”.

Spokesman Kate Pratt said: “This land is owned by the council and had previously been used as a garage site before the garages were demolished in 2017.

“Since demolition, several local residents have assumed this area as one for parking – however this was never the intention for this land, which has always been earmarked for housing.

“In January we wrote to all residents explaining that we would be beginning work on the site to provide much needed council housing for people on the housing register.

“Unfortunately several residents have refused to move off the land – despite us removing parking restrictions on Turton Way so residents can continue to park – so this morning (Monday) we took action to remove the vehicles and secure our land.

“To help us with this action and to ensure no breach of the peace the work was undertaken by bailiffs under our supervision and with the on-site support of the police.”

She also said no force was used against any resident and vehicles were removed from the site and placed on Turton Way, adding: “Police were on site and can verify this. We have received compliments today on the behaviour and courtesy of the officers on site, in particular in the dealings with an elderly gentleman.”

Speaking about why bailiffs and police were “necessary”, she said: “Unfortunately this issue has continued for many months and was holding up our ability to build new council homes for local people.

“Our officers have suffered from verbal abuse and threats to themselves and their families because of this which is not acceptable.

“Police and bailiffs were onsite to ensure there was no breach of the peace and the action we needed to take could be undertaken without threats or attempts at intimidation.

“There is no dispute. The land belongs to the council and as landowners we have the right to take possession of the land and remove any trespass.”