BOLTON MP Brian Iddon today praised the town's neighbour dispute mediation service, which he founded as a councillor.

In a special Commons debate, the former housing chairman called for more funding for the scheme in Bolton and others like it.

He told Planning Minister Nick Raynsford how he decided to set up the first council-run Neighbourhood Dispute Service in the UK.

In 1991, Sue Parry was appointed co-ordinator and 25 volunteers were trained to launch a pilot scheme in Deane and Daubhill in 1992. By the end of the year it had dealt with 45 cases.

Dr Iddon, MP for Bolton South East, said: "Bolton was careful to involve all householders, whether from the private or public sectors.

"The budget for 1995/96 was £40,000, met 50pc from the Housing Revenue Account and 50pc from the General Rate Fund.

"Today BNDS - Bolton Neighbour Dispute Service - operates across the 110,000 homes of the borough. Although it is sponsored by the housing department, it operates independently from the council.

"Up to a maximum of 42 volunteers have enrolled for training at any point in time. The Bolton service has been a model for the start-up of several others.

"In the three month period, April to June 1997, 49 cases were closed. Of these, eight were not thought suitable for mediation, eight first parties withdrew and, in another eight referrals, the second party was unwilling to participate.

"Of the 51pc of the referrals that agreed to participate, 24 cases out of 25 (96pc) were successful. This period snapshot is not typical."

Dr Iddon said that although there nearly 100 such schemes, lack of reliable funding from charities, councils and central government had hindered development, despite a Sheffield University study last year which showed it was cheaper and more effective than involving the courts.

Dr Iddon asked Mr Raynsford "to look at this funding issue and promote mediation as a cost effective method of dealing with many issues".

He said: "Neighbour disputes can escalate out of control, can become extremely costly, both to disputants and agencies involved, and can result in violence, even fatalities.

"At the very least they cause untold misery for many of our citizens."

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