Chairman Alan Wilson revealed that the two metre high structure was installed by contractors two weeks ago without warning.

He said: "It has been put up at the bottom of Phoenix Street near the Adelphi Warehouse and residents were told that they were planning to demolish three houses on either side.

"It has barred access of these properties down there and I wouldn't put it past the council to try and be sneaky because they are getting desperate.

"Two of the houses are not even in their ownership but they have affectively blocked off access to them going to their own properties."

As part of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Advance Goole scheme, which plans to regenerate the housing in the town, Richard Cooper Street and Phoenix Street are set to be raized to the ground to be replaced with 44 houses.

But GAG believe that with repair work the 117 homes on both streets could be saved and provide good quality living.

Alan said: "The houses they have blocked off look ok to me and they are not affecting any of the other residents still there.

"They have no right to intimidate people down there, and they have to give prior notice if they want to demolish.

"But if they went ahead without our knowledge we would be in an injunction against the East Riding and take further legal action."

A council spokesman said: "The council had concerns about the three properties and commissioned a report which confirmed there were structural defects.

"Fencing has been put up for safety reasons and the council is exploring options but has no plans to demolish the houses.

"Two of the houses belong to the council and we are in touch with the owner of the other one."