TENANTS opposing the sale of Stroud District Council's homes are stepping up their campaign. They are putting out a second leaflet and are buoyed up by the messages of support they say are flooding in from all over the district.

"Tenants and non-tenants alike are getting in touch with us to say that they are incensed by what is happening at the council," said action group member Vera Subow.

"The chief executive of the council has been offered a fat cat salary of about £100,000 but Hill and Vale will pay their chief executive more. The Sanctuary Housing Association boss is paid £165,000 according to the last Mail on Sunday for instance".

The action group is also concerned by what it feels are underhand tactics employed by the council and its consultants.

A number of the claims made by the council are not strictly true, the action group believes.

"To say that the housing association tenants would still be able to contact councillors is true in one sense, but the reality is that contacting them wouldn't help - as the councillors will have no influence over decisions any more.

"In the video a number of claims are made. For instance, one of the people on the video is talking about bigger kitchens as if this will be possible. But in fact bigger kitchens is not one of the promises the council is making so this is misleading."

Another concern is conflicts of interest.

"Council housing bosses and consultants are advising the council on how much to sell the houses for but at the same time they are also advising the newly set-up housing association on how cheaply they can buy them for. How can that be right?" queried tenant Madeline Stinchcombe.