By Phil Coleman Chief reporter

Last updated 05:41, Friday, 05 September 2008

A CARLISLE tenants group has launched what it says is a “mass petition” against plans to merge the city’s biggest housing association with others in the north west.

Ralph Aldersey: ’All we are tying to do is protect the interests of the people of Carlisle’ and people seem to appreciate that.” chairman of the Carlisle and Rural Tenants Federation who has collected a petition over concerns that Carlisle Housing Association are taking away housing stock. MONDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2008. DAVID HOLLINS

Carlisle and Rural Tenants‘ Federation has already voted against the plan, which would see Carlisle Housing Association (CHA) merged with others run by its Liverpool-based parent company Riverside.

The group fears that CHA could be managed from Merseyside – though Riverside insists that the 6,000 former council houses run by the association will continue to be managed locally.

The petition was launched at the weekend and is being distributed throughout the city by teams of volunteers from tenants’ groups.

A spokesman for the federation said: “There has been no proper consultation about this planned transfer and people are worried about the loss of local control and having to ring Liverpool about everything.

“Liverpool should not control Carlisle. This is purely an accounting exercise by CHA – to save them money.”

Ralph Aldersey, chairman of the federation, added: “The petition is now hitting the streets and there seems to be general support for what we’re trying to do. CHA have proved to be dogmatic, but all we are tying to do is protect the interests of the people of Carlisle and people seem to appreciate that.”

The petition will eventually be handed over to housing minister Caroline Flint.

It claims that CHA has failed to keep its promises to tenants and caused “considerable disappointment by the shocking and dictatorial way it has treated tenants and tenants‘ representatives.”

Riverside says that amalgamating its seven housing associations would help save money and cut down on administration.

The company has pointed out that the proposal for CHA to merge with other associations is currently the subject of public consultation and that all views will be taken into account.

There would be no job losses and any final decision would be made by the local CHA board in Carlisle.

Carlisle city councillor Ray Bloxham has called for the plan to be put to a vote of tenants, and if opposed by them, to be dropped.