BOLTON Council are said to be considering bringing in a plan to reward tenants who pay their rent on time and have no record of harassing neighbours or vandalising their homes or communities.

A good idea, but as a tenant who complies with all the necessary requirements -- and have done for 35 years without any rewards -- I must say I am not impressed with rewards of education/training grants, or cash discounts at certain shops. Why not knock cash off my rent? And talking about cash off rents -- when will the council realise that the key to creating strong communities, good neighbours, and good neighbourhoods is continuity of tenancy? Neighbours who live together for many years, whose children grow up together from strong communities and generally take a pride in their area and their homes. To encourage tenants to stay in the same home, councils should give rewards of cash off rents. After, say, 30 years, tenants who stay put should be living virtually rent free. This is the way to create decent estates, and, at the same time, reward decent tenants, just for being decent tenants.

Incidentally, on the subject of trial tenancies -- something I have been suggesting our council should adopt for years. A reader informs me that Bury Council are to introduce this idea and that leaflets have been sent to tenants. Meanwhile, back at Bolton Town Hall ...z..z..z...

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton