I hope tenants will not be put off fighting for council housing by news repairs over the next 30 years could cost up to £650 million.

A few years ago, tenants in Tillstone Street were told the council could not afford major repairs to homes and these would be transferred to a housing association which could borrow to do the work.

After a vigorous campaign, the council discovered an underspend and agreed to do the work. The same tenants have now joined a national campaign to force the Government to fund council housing properly.

All over the country tenants are voting "no" to privatisation. On June 28, John Prescott said in the House of Commons: "We have had to say we will try to provide adequate funding for those who want to stay with local authorities."

The campaign is working but the Government is still taking £4 million out of our rents every year.

We must step up the campaign and declare: "We want our money back."

-Karen Yeo, chairwoman Tillstone Street Residents Association, Tillstone Street, Brighton