MY fellow tenants and I are dismayed by the recent comments by Councillor Mel Davis on the "selling" of Selby council homes ("Council to sell homes for £2,000 each", July 28).

I can only assume that she did not read the very detailed evidence file discussed in depth by councillors, staff and 14 tenants at the full-day event on July 1 at Tadcaster.

Her remarks are factually incorrect and misleading and I would like to make the corrections.

The proposal to be considered by the council would see the homes transferred to a specially created, not for profit, newly formed Selby & District Housing Association.

The management board of this new body will have tenants as full voting members together with councillors and independents, who will bring special skills.

This means that tenants will have a real say in how their homes are managed and improved.

Unlike the council, the "new" housing association will be able to borrow substantial funds against the homes to retain the present standards, deliver tenants' aspirations, secure housing staff's jobs and possibly build more homes.

Government policy has decreed that council house rents and housing association rents must converge by 2012. The effect will be that rents will be the same or very similar; furthermore both existing and new housing association tenants retain the right to buy.

Like it or not, because of present Government policies the only option that will ensure the present high level of home improvements is maintained, and ensure that affordable "rented" homes are available for future generations is voluntary stock transfer.

It is not selling off the "family silver" but retaining it in a different way that allows it to be improved and enhanced away from Government interference.

Alan W Hartley,

Selby district tenants' panel chair,

River View,

Barlby,

Selby.

Updated: 11:37 Monday, August 02, 2004