COUNCIL tenants are being invited to comment on plans to incorporate water bills into weekly rent payments.

The council wants to team up with regional supplier North West Water to collect charges as part of the gross rent from April 1999.

Councillors believe the combined weekly payment will enable tenants to budget their water charges over a longer period.

Housing Services chairman Alice Froggatt said: "We believe the proposals will give our tenants greater convenience in paying and importantly, allow them to spread their water charges over 46 weeks."

Housing chiefs have drawn up draft changes to tenancy agreements and notified its 11,300 tenants by post.

Some have reacted angrily to the news that they could be forced to pay their water bills with their rent.

Worried Julie Hutton, of Secker Avenue, Latchford, said: "There are lots of people who get benefits for their rent but do not get any help with water rates. The water rates may get left if these people get short of money and put them at risk of losing their homes."

Another council tenant, who did not wish to be named, said: "Lots of people are angry and worried about these proposals.

"People shouldn't be forced to pay their water bills this way if they don't want to and it's wrong to make the charges part of the tenancy agreement."

Tenants are being asked to put their views on the proposals in writing to the Director of Housing and a decision on the partnership will be made later this month.

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