THE Bury Council "vouchers for rent" scheme, outlined in the Bury Times (August 22), is insulting to the thousands of people who pay their bills regularly. The scheme promises to reward council house tenants who pay their rent arrears with up to £50 in vouchers to be exchanged for goods on the High Street.

This sort of incentive scheme for habitual non-payers sends out all the wrong messages.

From what I can gather this scheme was devised and decided upon by a select group consisting of some of the council's chief officers and two members of the ruling Labour Group. Councillor Tim Chamberlain, the portfolio holder for housing,claims it will not cost the taxpayer a penny. So how will it be funded?

Over the years Bury Council has written-off vast amounts of taxpayers' money in uncollected rent. Indeed, at the end of August Bury MBC had a total of £1,750,000 owed, with a substantial number owing between £500 and £3,000.

According to recent press reports, Bury MBC claims to have been congratulated on its improved rent collection service, and this is to be welcomed. But out of respect for the thousands of people all over this borough who pay their dues regularly and on time I feel it is morally wrong to reward those who default on their payments. And if this incentive-to-pay scheme has any success at all then it will only prove in my mind that there are some tenants in our council houses who could pay, but won't!

Although Coun Chamberlain insists that this voucher system is a "one-off" I am not so confident. I feel the council may have set a precedent which could actually encourage some people to withold part of their payments until such an incentive is again offered.

COUNCILLOR DOROTHY GUNTHER,

Opposition spokesperson on housing.