IN recent weeks quite a lot of people have asked me what I think of the plans by Macclesfield Borough Council to transfer its housing to a new housing trust.

I can say without hesitation that I think it's a good idea, and when the ballot comes shortly I'm recommending that tenants vote 'yes'.

I've come to this view after careful consideration.

After all, my overriding responsibility is to the people I represent not the council.

That's why I've taken time to visit the show homes in Knutsford and Wilmslow. I've seen the travelling road show when it stopped at Chelford.

I've spoken to the councillors and council officials who have drawn up the plan. Most important of all, I've spoken to lots of tenants who are going to be affected.

I've listened and I've learned, and I believe the transfer will be good news for tenants. Let me explain why.

First, I can see what an impact the proposed improvements to people's homes will make in the first few years.

The new kitchens, bathrooms and doors are impressive, as I saw for myself in the show homes.

I like the fact that people get to choose from a wide range of colours and styles.

The new security features and the smoke alarms will reassure many families.

The new central heating and insulation should save on bills.

On top of that there's the general neighbourhood improvements to outdoor areas that will make a big difference to local communities.

Second, the new Peaks and Plains Housing Trust will be better placed to look after tenants over the long-term. Macclesfield Borough Council have been pretty good as a landlord, but the rules are stacked against them.

A third of all the rent people pay has to be sent to the national Government, instead of being used to improve their homes.

The new housing trust will be able to spend all the rent money on looking after the homes. That will mean an extra �4 million a year spent on local communities.

The new Trust will have to set similar rents to those that people currently pay and some of the people running the Trust will be tenants themselves, so they can keep a close eye on things.

So with major improvements to your home in the short-term, and a better deal in the long-term, I would urge the tenants of Knutsford to vote yes.

Time to pay up

A couple of weeks ago I went to see the managing director of Manchester Airport to help resolve the logjam on claims for compensation from people who think the value of their house has been affected by the second runway.

It's been over four years since the runway opened and not a single compensation payment has been made.

I told the airport that that wasn't good enough.

They need to get on with it and pay people what they are entitled to.

In return the airport asked me to make sure people's claims were properly completed and included actual evidence of the impact on their house value.

So my message to people who are thinking of making claim is: Get your papers in order so you don't give the airport any excuses.