A SIX-week consultation asking residents whether their estate should be granted special status attracted only four responses.

Redbridge Council organised a consultation between June 21 and August 2 and invited views on whether Wanstead's Lake House Estate should be designated Residential Precinct status.

Estate residents contacted Michelle Dunn, Wanstead Ward councillor, in July 2009 about the possibility of extending the conservation area in Aldersbrook to the Lake House Estate.

As the estate was not deemed to have enough special character to warrant conservation area status it was decided Residential Precinct status would suffice and could help protect the area's attractive Edwardian streets from inappropriate redevelopment.

The consultation process involved notifying all 314 properties of the Lake House Estate and making copies of a character appraisal of the area available on the council's website, at Aldersbrook, Wanstead and Central libraries, and the One Stop Shop at Lynton House, Ilford.

Pat Pratley, of Blake House Crescent, Wanstead, said: "Apathy reigns. It probably was not well known among residents.

"People are also getting concerned about Wanstead Flats being potentially at risk (of being used for a police based during the 2012 Olympics) so people who are active are looking at that.

"Of course there are also those who are not active.

"If it was a consultation about extending the conservation area it might have provoked more response.

The 67-year-old added: "A residential precinct seems ill-defined and it is difficult to know what protection it offers legally.

"I don't think there's a legal definition and without that we are talking cloud cuckoo land."

On Monday the council's Area One Committee is due to meet and receive feedback from the consultation.

The four responses include two in support of the precinct proposal, one objection to the proposal as it is claimed it might restrict a future extension and one resident who still felt the conservation area should be extended.

Monday's meeting will be at Wanstead Church School in Church Path from 7.15pm.