Tenants' sell-off fear (From Stroud News and Journal)

Tenants' sell-off fear

A PRESSURE group has been formed by council tenants in the Stroud district to prevent their homes being sold off.

The group,'Stand Together Tenants' are concerned that their lives will be thrown into turmoil by the proposed transfer of properties from Stroud District Council to a housing association.

Tenants claim they have not been properly consulted or informed by the council and they are angry that they have not had a chance to have their say.

Now the group intends to circulate a newsletter to tenants throughout the Stroud area to get their concerns recognised.

"There are two sides to the transfer proposal," said Madeline Stinchcombe a council tenant from Cashes Green who has been in her current property for 27 years.

"The council say there are no disadvantages but we know that tenants from other councils have had problems after transfer. This is a very big worry for us.

"Tenants want the current system to stay as it is. If we are transferred to a housing association we won't know our landlords and the whole thing would be run by some fat cat. The council is asking us to sell our birth right," said Miss Stinchcombe.

"A housing association is run as a mortgage and we are worried that we could be evicted if it runs into benefit problems," she said.

Chairman of the group Vera Subow said: "We are aware that other council tenants in other areas have been threatened that no repairs will be done unless they vote yes. We are worried that could happen here."

Director of housing and environmental services at Stroud District Council Kelvin May yesterday reassured tenants.

"They should keep an open mind and read the full proposal document in the autumn," he said.

"Hill and Vale Housing which will take on the council stock will operate in the same operational manner that is in place now"