B EMMERSON is quite right to challenge the unfair so-called "choice" put to Selby council tenants - transfer to a housing association or lose out on repairs and improvements - and correctly identifies the cause: Government restrictions on housing investment which show a clear bias toward the private sector (Letters, May 18).

But the tide is turning. Selby council tenants may wish to know tenants elsewhere have defied this undue pressure and voted to stay with their council, thus keeping security of tenancy.

They are campaigning for the right for councils to invest properly without unfair restrictions and, having won a vote to this effect at the last Labour conference, are now optimistic about changing Government policy.

Tenants have launched a Defend Council Housing (DCH) campaign which can provide information and resources for keeping council housing intact and in-house.

DCH can be contacted at: Defend Council Housing, PO Box 33519, London E2 9WW, by phone 0207 987 9989 or email info@defendcouncilhousing.org.uk.

Ben Drake,

Danum Road, York.

Updated: 11:21 Tuesday, May 24, 2005