REGARDING the proposed transfer of Blackburn with Darwen's council homes to a new not-for-profit housing organisation.

Jim Buckley (Letters, March 27) suggests tenants are being 'railroaded.'

This is not so. It is a government requirement that the council gives each tenant the information they need to make an informed decision on the future of their home.

Tenants will have many questions and we aim to answer them through a series of newsletters, home visits and through the freephone helpline.

It's true that the shadow board has already been established. It is important that tenants are involved in the proposals right from the start. It is also important for the board to begin to look at how the new not-for-profit independent housing organisation will operate if tenants vote 'yes' to the transfer of their homes later this year.

The average cost of repairs and modernisation to homes has been averaged out across the borough's 10,000 homes. Some homes will need a lot of work; some will need less to bring them up to the standards tenants deserve. As for Mr Buckley's query about how the council has spent money previously, when the council first built the homes, it had to borrow the money to do it. Consequently, the council is still paying back the money it borrowed, as well as repairing and maintaining homes.

Finally, as part of the proposal, the borough's homes have been independently valued by experts. The valuation of the houses is set by rules laid down by the Government.

The value is based on the fact the homes are rented. Rents are not set at a commercial rate and our homes need considerable improvement and modernisation. The value reflects that the homes cannot be sold on the open market as vacant and in good condition.

The council is happy to answer all tenants' questions. A special freephone information line (0800 0350854) has been set up to answer any they may have.

COUN S GREENWOOD, Chairman, Housing and Community Services Committee, Blackburn with Darwen Council.

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