We'll stick with you!

The families in Thorpe Edge and Idle village were the first in the district to get the chance to opt out to a new landlord but today they declared: "We are sticking with Bradford Council."

But their decision will mean the tenants will not get new bathrooms, kitchens or door entry systems - as they have lost the £1.9 million Government funds they would have got if they had left the authority.

It is understood a rumour of higher rents being charged by the independent organisation which would have become their landlord may have influenced the vote.

They 580 tenants are among a select few in Britain to take part in the ground breaking ballot.

Among them is Sandwell, Birmingham, where 12,000 tenants decided to stay with the Council.

But elsewhere, including Liverpool, Manchester and a number of London boroughs tenants voted by about two to one transfer from the hard up local authorities.

If the Thorpe Edge tenants had decided to opt out, an independent organisation, the Idlethorpe Housing Trust, would have been set up.

The Council was awarded a multi-million pound grant from the previous Tory government's Estates Renewal Challenge Fund two years ago.

It was handed out to the country's most run down estates - but a condition was made that tenants got the right to opt out of the local authority when the main work was carried out.

The Bradford tenants got £4.5 million and were warned before the ballot they would lose the last £1.9 million if they chose to stay with the Council.

But the families who voted in favour said their homes were in safe hands.

Tenant Margaret Adams, who was awarded the MBE after campaigning to have the York House block of flats in Thorpe Edge refurbished in the 1980s, was delighted with the outcome of the ballot.

The 68-year-old said: "I've lived in these flats for 23 years. I always say better the devil you know, and Bradford Council has always done the right thing by tenants in the past."

Housing committee chairman, Councillor Steve Thomas, said today he was delighted the tenants had shown confidence in the Council and they would continue to seek funding.

But he could give no guarantee the Council could give priority to the outstanding repairs which would have been funded by the government cash.

Repairs have been carried out at all the flats through the Government package and some worn out central heating systems which were worn out have been replaced.

But the tenants will all miss out completely on main improvement schemes, including door entry systems unless the hard pushed Council can afford it.

Coun Thomas said: "We will have to look at this in conjunction with our commitment to other tenants in the area. We are on a tight financial budget."

Labour councillor Ken Baxter, who has represented the ward for almost 20 years said he was delighted with the vote and believed the tenants would have faced far higher service charges if they had transferred.

The tenants voted by 348-260 to stay with the Council and there was a huge turnout of 84 per cent for the ballot.

Kevin and Jackie White, who have been tenants in York House for just over 12 months, opted to stay with the Council.

Mr White said: "When it comes to housing the Council has looked after us all our married lives, so we're in safe hands. You don't know what you're getting with a private landlord. And the fact 84 per cent of tenants took part in the ballot shows just how strongly everyone feels."

He added: "The vote has been the topic of conversation all over the estate for the last two weeks and a lot of people were saying they'd prefer to stay with the council."

But Donnas Fearnley, chairman of both the Tenants Steering Group and Garsdale Avenue Tenants and Residents Association said she was disappointed by the vote and the fact that the award was being lost.

Idle Liberal Democrat Ward Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said she was sceptical of the Council's ability to deliver the goods.

Deputy leader of the Council's Tory group Councillor Richard Wightman said: It is a pity they have not been persuaded about the advantages of a new management. I hope this will not deter other tenants from pressing the Council for a change."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.