SIX council tenants from Blackburn and Darwen have been selected to sit on the shadow board of the company which may soon be running the local authority's houses.

The new organisation will officially take over responsibility for council homes if town hall housing chiefs' plan to transfer ownership wins government approval and a 'yes' vote from tenants in a secret ballot later this year.

Nineteen tenants attended a hustings event at Ewood Park, where they each gave a short presentation to an audience of tenants. Following their presentations the applicants were questioned and six were selected to sit on the shadow board of the new independent housing organisation.

They are Betty Austin, of Shadsworth, Lesley Bradley, Green Lane, Lorraine Campbell, Highercroft, Rita Mullarkey, Roe Lee, Kath Howarth, Queen's Park and Neil Rogers, of Marsh House, Darwen.

An independent survey has shown that £130million is needed to bring the borough's council homes up to modern day standards over the next 12 years. The council has looked at various options of raising the money and has recommended the transfer of ownership of the homes, but this will only go ahead if tenants vote yes.

A government decision on whether the council will be allowed to ballot tenants on the transfer is expected next month. If the Government gives the go-ahead for the vote and tenants then vote in favour of transfer, the new independent housing organisation will guarantee that rents will be less than with the council.

Newly-elected tenants board member Betty Austin said: "This is a real opportunity for tenants to work with councillors and independent experts to give tenants the homes they deserve.

"There is a lot of work to be done, but this is an opportunity for the borough's tenants to get the repairs and modernisation they have simply not had from the council, due to their lack of money."

Pictured are nominees for the shadow board.

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