PENSIONERS have declared a victory for “the little man” after Barnet Council announced it will not appeal a decision over sheltered housing warden cuts.

David Young, chairman of the UK Pensioners Strategy Committee, which brought the High Court case against the council in December, said residents were overjoyed when they heard about the decision last night.

He said: “Instead of demonstration we will be celebrating.

“The pensioners of Barnet, Portsmouth and across the nation are overjoyed and relieved with this triumph of the little man.”

Resident Monty Share, 82, of Kingsley Court, Tayside Avenue, Edgware, said: “We're all very excited here. It's wonderful news.

“I agree with David that it's a victory for the ordinary person. We had to take the council to court, there was no choice.

“They must be wasting money in other things and they decided to take it away from the elderly people. There must be lots of highly paid people in the council who we don't really need.”

Mr Share, who like many sheltered housing residents has varied health problems, said wardens were essential to people like him so they could enjoy an independent life.

“I don't want to live with my children. I want to live on my own. It doesn't matter how much you love your children, it's not the same.”

But the residents' solicitor Yvonne Hossack warned the issue is not over.

She said: “It's very good news but it's not the end of the road because councils have the ability to come back.”

Residents have now lodged 107 civil claims against sheltered housing landlords accusing them of breach of contract.

Since the council announced its decision to cut the funding for wardens, sheltered housing landlords across Barnet had started making their own cuts and not replacing staff who left, Ms Hossack said.

They have also sharply increased rent prices, giving people the choice between paying to keep their in-house wardens or going without.

Ms Hossack said: “Many people have sold their houses and carefully worked out their budgets for the rest of their lives to move into to sheltered accommodation.

“An increase of £10 a week is very difficult. An increase of £24 a week is simply impossible.”