ONE OF the reasons why our local council housing is in such a mess is that the Labour Government only repays a small proportion of the rent rebates paid out. In 2001/2, 75p in every pound paid out in rent rebates will come from the two thirds of council tenants who pay full or part rent. This is a totally unjustified situation.

It is unbelievable, but unfortunately true, that tenants who pay full or part rent are contributing an average of £25 per week to the rent rebates of others. Put another way, over half the rent they pay, on average, is not going to pay for repairs, improvements etc. It is going to pay the rent rebates of other tenants in Crewe and Nantwich.

If the Labour Government fully funded the rent rebates, as they should, the borough council would have an extra £5million a year to spend on houses.

Instead we have tenants living in cold, damp homes who are paying through the nose for an unacceptable service as well as paying the housing benefits of others. It can't be allowed to continue.

Cllr Brian Silvester

Conservative Grp