AN ELDERLY woman may be evicted from her farmhouse to make way for a new housing development. Mary Bollem, 79, has lived in her secluded property in the conservation area of Lower Twydall Lane, Gillingham, for 45 years.

But the pensioner's happy memories of bringing up her two sons in the house are being torn from her as plans are being made to replace her three-bedroomed cottage with seven luxury houses.

Mrs Bollem was devastated to learn that developers Millwood want to demolish Prospect House and replace it with two four-bedroomed detached houses, two three-bedroomed semi-detached houses and three three-bedroomed terraced houses.

This comes as the same developers are putting the finishing touches to 16 luxury houses nearby. Mrs Bollem is now suffering sleepless nights as she faces the prospect of being made homeless.

She said: "I'm devastated. I can't get it out of my head that I'm going to be homeless. I've got nowhere else to go. I keep being told they'll be money in it for me, but I don't want money, I want my home."

Mrs Bollem's late husband, George, was farm manager at Little York Farm and the couple had agreed with previous owners that they could live at the farmhouse rent-free for the rest of their lives. It was only when she read the planning application in a newspaper that she learnt the proposed development included the demolition of her home.

Ronald Klapwijk of Rotterdam, Holland, bought Prospect House and Little York Farm in 1996. He said: "The opportunity to develop this corner of land has arisen and the old house will be out of keeping with the development. Millwood have put in the planning application, not me. They are exploring the development possibilities.

"I am very understanding to Mrs Bollem's situation but I am the landowner and there is no legal obligation for her to stay in the house. She has been living there rent-free and we have never signed any agreement.

"I understand her emotional feelings and her statutory rights as she has lived in the property for so long, but I have to secure my financial input. No definite decisions have been made. If planning permission is given I will be meeting with Mrs Bollem to see how we can go forward.

"I will make a financial contribution to help her with moving expenses."

Mrs Bollem and her neighbours have written letters of objection to Medway Council.

Councillors are expected to decide whether to give the development the go-ahead at a planning meeting later this month.