AS a tenant board member of Two Rivers Housing, I feel compelled to reply to Mr Gardner's letter in the Review on June 7, and correct the misinformation that he quoted.

Two?Rivers Housing is not just Garry King. The plans to move the housing association was made by the voluntary unpaid board of management, that comprises six independent members (appointed for their specific professional expertise), four tenants, and two councillors. Our chairman, Dr David Garnett, is an independent member with more than 30 years experience in social housing finance, management and development. It was these people who researched, scrutinised, and then proposed the move to Newent, which, last time I checked, is still part of the Forest of Dean, policed by officers from Cinderford, governed by Forest of Dean District Council, and represented in parliament by the Forest of Dean MP. It is also a place of residence for more than 200 tenants of Two Rivers Housing.

We have worked out that as well as providing an asset for the charity the costs of servicing the loan to build the asset will be significantly less than the rent we pay for renting our current offices at Mitcheldean. Our research also showed that our running costs will be significantly less and the building would be more in tune with the needs of a modern charity. In light of these facts our board decided it would be irresponsible not to move and let me assure your readers that the significant savings that results from the move will be reinvested in new homes and improved services in the future.

We included extra care homes (subject to getting planning permission) in the development in response to evidence that there is a real need for this specialist accommodation and that as a forward looking charitable organisation we see it as our duty to plan ahead so that we can contribute to meeting the housing needs of the Forest of Dean.

As a caring, enterprising social business we see ourselves as being 'more than just a landlord' and are concerned to do what we can to support local community initiatives and the local economy. Our proposed 'Live/Work' units, which will be a part of the development (subject to planning permission), are intended to enable local people to start and develop new businesses. We have experience in this field with a very successful scheme in our redevelopment of the Cottage Hospital in Ledbury.

As far as the grass cutting issue is concerned this is currently being reviewed by a judge in the county court and we will abide by any ruling and in the meantime the charity will continue to subsidise those homeowners who are refusing to contribute.

When we started we promised to bring homes up to modern standards and to build 200 homes in the first five years. All our homes (other than those on sites being redeveloped) are now at or above the government's 'Decent Homes Standard.' This has involved investment so far of £40m in the homes that we took over from the council in 2003. Our 400th energy efficient home was opened in March this year in Littledean. This represents a 100 per cent improvement on our original promise and gives the lie to the misleading statement made in Mr Gardner's letter. Any new home is part funded by the Homes and Communities Agency and through private funding from?Barclay's bank. Our board has recently approved a new bid for funding to develop a further 224 new homes in the area but you will appreciate that the outcome is partly dependant on the success of the bid to government.

I hope these facts help to readdress the misinformation contained in Mr Gardner's letter.

– Gillian Robins, Tenant Board Member, Two Rivers Housing Association.