RESIDENTS who feel they have been "stabbed in the back" by Hyndburn Council are planning to retaliate.

Shocked Within Grove tenants, in Huncoat, are to meet today (Thursday October 10) to discuss how to stop the council selling off their homes to a housing association.

They fear they will face higher rents if the houses are under the ownership of a new Housing Company, a joint venture between the council and a housing association. But council officers say their plans will not go ahead without the approval of tenants and consultation about the sell-off has just started.

Residents recently complained about the number of empty properties on the Within Grove estate and claim that higher rents would force out more low income tenants.

Hyndburn's community services director Edgar Bignell said: "It is too early in the day to be discussing rent prices. But we will put together a prospectus detailing the proposals, including a rent guarantee, for the tenants.

"If they don't like it then, they can vote against the new housing company in a ballot."

Mr Bignell added: "We haven't yet decided which housing association to partner but I have invited a different one to each of the four meetings I have had with the residents' association."

Mr Bignell said the council hope to have completed the sell-off within the next 18 months.

But a residents' association spokesman said: "The general mood among tenants is that they are preparing to fight the council all the way.

"What has upset us most is the way in which we found out. Edgar Bignell, of Hyndburn Council, attended a recent housing association meeting and told us what the council were planning to do.

"That was the first time anyone in Huncoat had heard about it. Even local councillors were unaware of the plans."

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