Plans to sell off Braintree's council homes were given the thumbs-up by councillors - despite a fierce protest from tenants.
More than 30 council tenants gathered outside Braintree Council's headquarters in Bocking End last night and voiced their opposition to proposals to sell off 8,373 homes to a housing association.
A total of 42 councillors voted to put forward the housing association option for more consultation and 11 against at the council meeting.
Member of Defend Council Housing in the Braintree District, Malcolm Mead, 68, of Homefield Road, Witham, said: "I'm very angry. The fight has just started. We're not going to let this go. We will start a campaign against these plans.
"How can councillors give themselves an 86 per cent rise in their allowances and claim they can't afford to keep the housing stock? It's all wrong."
Some councillors stressed that the decision was not final and the ultimate decision would rest with tenants themselves when a ballot took place.
Councillor Neil Coughlan said: "The only people that can transfer the housing stock to a housing association is the tenants.
"There is no harm in letting them make that decision.
"They can either accept or reject it it would be arrogant of us to reject it on their behalf.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Tuesday, June 21, 2005
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