Thousands of Colchester council tenants could be affected by Labour's plans to slash "right to buy" discounts.

The plans, announced by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, would halve discounts on buying council houses in property hot-spots.

With 6,500 council houses in Colchester, these measures could have a serious long-term effect on an already highly competitive housing market.

Colchester Council's Labour group leader and portfolio holder for housing, health and community safety, Tim Young, said: "I think that it is a positive move. The shortage of housing in Colchester is something that needs to be dealt with.

"It's not right that the discount on properties for council housing tenants is greater than those for other home buyers.

"Between 140 and 200 council properties are being sold each year and we have over 2,000 people on the list at the moment, waiting for housing the situation clearly needs to be addressed."

And Conservative housing spokeswoman Sonia Lewis said: "On the face of it, I do agree with cutting the amount of discounts for council tenants to buy, as I don't think that they should have more privileges than any other buyers.

"But I see the private developers as a positive influence on the housing market as they are building more properties for people to live in, rather than taking them away."

Colin Sykes, leader of the Lib Dem group, said: "If this helps to preserve our stock of social housing, then I think the Lib Dems would welcome that.

"But the underlying point is that for years now, councils have not been given the financial tools to provide social housing."

Published Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette