“DISGUSTED” campaigners claim their petition – which calls for no tenants in Bolton who have rent arrears due to the ‘bedroom tax’ to be evicted – has been “kicked into the long grass”.

Bolton Against Bedroom Tax activists watched their 4,000-signature strong petition be discussed by Bolton Council’s corporate and external issues scrutiny committee tonight.

Since April 2013, the controversial spare room subsidy – or ‘bedroom tax’ – has seen tenants lose a portion of their benefits if they are deemed to have an extra room.

Petitioners gathered more than 4,000 signatures to trigger a full council debate but this was denied – with the group told Bolton Council did not have any direct responsibility for, or control over, the issue of Bedroom Tax so it would be inappropriate.

A compromise was reached between council chiefs and the campaigners that the petition could instead be presented to, and discussed by, the scrutiny committee.

This evening’s meeting heard that since April 2013, two Bolton tenants have been evicted from St Vincent’s housing association homes because of the subsidy.

But no customers living in Bolton at Home, Contour, Great Places, Irwell Valley or Places for People houses have yet been evicted for non-payment.

During the town hall meeting Linda Charnock, chairman of Bolton Against Bedroom Tax, had the chance to speak about the petition for five minutes.

She said: “Many tenants in Bolton who are subject to the bedroom tax have been struggling for more than two years to maintain a basic standard of living."

Ms Charnock said the pressure group had heard “horror stories” from tenants in Bolton – such as residents in arrears being told to sell their televisions and washing machines to afford their rent and a disabled tenant told to stop paying for internet.

She said Bolton Council should use the costs of taking tenants to court for unpaid rent to instead provide more Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).

Jon Lord chief executive of Bolton at Home, said the provider had given out nearly £333,000 in DHP last year and had helped 167 tenants downsize, 226 the year before.

He said Bolton at Home had been the first housing association in the UK to implement a ‘no homelessness policy’ with the support of Bolton Council.

But Ms Charnock said this policy could still see families forced to move to different areas of Bolton, away from their communities, schools and relatives.

Cllr David Greenhalgh, leader of the council’s Conservative group, said all parties had spoken in favour of a no evictions policy at an earlier debate.

But council leader Cliff Morris said there had been no Government funding for this policy, and committee chairman Cllr Ismail Ibrahim told Cllr Greenhalgh he was confusing a no evictions policy for the ‘no homelessness’ promise.

The committee unanimously voted to refer the council’s report on the response to the subsidy’s introduction to the executive member for further consideration.

Councillors also called for an investigation into the two evictions made by St Vincents, but a “disgusted” Ms Charnock said this was not enough.

She added: “We feel so let down. Now is the time for more direct action.”

Chris Chilton from the pressure group added: “We have campaigned long and hard to get this issue in front of the council.

“We have done everything that was required of us, and in the end the council just kicked the petition into the long grass.”

A 'Wake Up Bolton' protest will be held in Bolton town centre on Saturday, May 2 between 10am and 5pm.