Decision made prior to meeting

The first post on October 3 brought a letter from Oswestry Borough Council informing tenants of its decision to try and transfer homes to a housing association.

It contained the following sentence: "At its meeting on 2nd of October 2007 the council considered all of the written comments made by tenants and leaseholders."

Considering the meeting was on the evening of the second and the letter was delivered on the morning of the third it is obvious the decision was made before the meeting ever took place.

When tenants come to vote they will have to decide who they trust.

Do they trust South Staffordshire Housing Association Ltd which has been spending tenants' rent money for the last 18 months organising the proposed transfer for Oswestry?

Do they trust the four councillors on the shadow board who are happy to spend our right-to-buy money on non-housing projects such as the new leisure centre?

Do they trust the pro-transfer tenants used by the council, who when you ask them for facts and figures can't come up with an answer? If they don't know the facts how do they know it's the right thing to do?

Or do you believe tenants who have tried to get the facts and who have nothing to gain other than a secure tenancy with the council?

The only help we have received has been from Defend Council Housing and Unison for which we are grateful. We also have doubts about a ballot conducted by post, internet freephone and text.

R Dallow and A Knight, Oswestry