Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PRESS RELEASE 19 October 2001 For Use: Immediately

Press Links

Independent Tenants' Advisers

Council tenants in the Western Isles will soon be able to call upon wholly independent advice regarding the Comhairle's Community Ownership initiative. An Independent Tenants Adviser has been appointed by the Western Isles Residents Forum to provide advice and information to tenants on the Comhairle's proposals to transfer its houses to a new Community Owned Housing Association.

The firm appointed, TPAS (Tenants Participation and Advisory Service), is regarded as the leading tenants participation organisation in the country, with a background in providing advice and training to tenants and tenants groups. Lesley Baird, the Director of TPAS, said she was delighted that TPAS had been chosen, as they had worked with tenants in the Western Isles on many occasions and were always impressed at the amount of participation that existed between the Residents Associations and the Comhairle.

TPAS will be now be working with the Forum to make sure that every tenant has the opportunity to find out more about Community Ownership and to ensure that tenants' interests are to the fore. During the first phase of the process, TPAS will be meeting with all the Residents/Tenants Associations in the islands and producing a number of newsletters, which will explain more about Community Ownership.

Mr Calum MacKay, the Chair of the Western Isles Residents Forum said 'I am pleased that independent advice for tenants is now available, as it is important that tenants have the chance to find out more about transferring to Community Ownership, as ultimately tenants will have the final say through a secret ballot.'

Ends

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer