A retired vicar has accused the council of demolishing a housing estate to build “a posh walkway for Spurs”.

Reverend Paul Nicolson, of Taxpayers Against Poverty, told councillors on Monday that their consultation procedures were illegal.

The Love Lane estate will be demolished as part of the High Road West regeneration plans linked to the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Rev Nicolson said: “Spurs management have said they don’t want their corporate customers walking through a council estate. The Spurs Supporters Trust don’t want a posh walkway.  

“We say that your High Road West consultation was illegal because there was no option but demolition, and this despite 4,000 people signing a local anti-demolition petition.

“Our demand is that you go back to the drawing board and consult about the option of the status quo and improvements.”

Rev Nicolson’s challenge to the consultation comes after the Supreme Court ruled last month that the council’s consultation on new tax benefit rules was “unfair and unlawful”.

Councillor Jason Arthur, cabinet member for resources and culture, defended the council’s consultation on both council tax and the Love Lane demolitions.

Cllr Arthur argued that although the court found the council’s tax consultation unlawful, it did not order a new consultation.

He added that the consultation on the demolitions of the Love Lane estate had been “extensive”.

He said: “We’ve looked at retaining part or most of the blocks within the estate, and we have also spoken to residents about the demolition of all of the properties whilst making a clear public commitment to re-housing all council tenants in new homes on the site at social rent.”

Rev Nicolson said he was still unhappy. He said: “The response of the council showed the continuing lack of connection between local government and the poorest residents in Haringey.

“It also showed the council’s inability to accept any responsibility for making that hardship worse.”