Council tenants are to travel to London to protest against Government policy that local authorities should get rid of their social housing.
Free buses will ferry tenants from Brighton and Hove to join others from across the UK outside Parliament for a demonstration and rally next month.
According to current Government policy, councils can only receive funds to pay for vital council home refurbishments if they transfer ownership to a private company, housing association or an arms-length management organisation.
Tenant organisation, Defend Council Housing, is calling for the Government to invest directly in council homes instead.
Brighton and Hove City Council voted last year to transfer its stock to a new housing association, owned and run by tenants, called the Community Gateway.
Tenants will have the final say in a ballot later this year.
Councillor Francis Tonks, who opposes the transfer, will attend the London demonstration.
He said: "Tenants must have a real choice. They must be able to demonstrate their opposition to privatisation.
"The lobby will demonstrate the range of opinion against any transfer of housing that will take it out of the control of democratically-elected public bodies."
To attend the protest, which is on February 8, call Defend Council Housing's chairwoman Ruth Arundell on 01273 608704 or email ruthm@freeuk.com
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
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