SIR - I am writing in response to the letter from the FLATs Group in the Gazette (October 10).

This group is not as independent as they may have you believe. They are delivering their leaflets on the housing transfer of Stroud District Council wearing corporate uniforms supplied by the council with a Hill and Vale logo across the front.

Hill and Vale as an entity, for whatever purpose, will not exist until after the transfer ballot and then only if a yes vote is achieved. A shadow board has been formed but it has no power that I am aware of at the moment.

Incidentally, the FLAT leaflet contains the only real lie in the whole transfer campaign. It is that the Vote No campaigners want to block the transfer and deny others good homes.

The estate at Cam where one of the FLAT group members lives enjoys every benefit that the Cashes Green, Stroud, bungalows have, so this person has no axe to grind.

With 72 per cent of the council housing already up to the Decent Homes Standard approved by the government's surveyors, this leaves only 28 per cent of houses to be modernised. This is an ongoing process under the planned maintenance of the council.

Not a bad record for a council that has always served its tenants well - until transfer/sell-off reared its ugly head.

Cashes Green resident Name and address supplied Stroud