KENNET District Council has taken over the running of the successful Homes@Kennet service, which invites people on the housing list to bid for the particular property they want.

The pilot scheme which started in October 2000, officially came to an end at Christmas but the decision was made that it should continue on a permanent basis.

Under the scheme, vacant housing association homes for rent in Kennet are advertised in the Gazette and Herald's property section and on the Internet and bids are invited from people on the housing register.

Kennet has arranged for Internet access sites to be available free at various locations around the district.

Peter Cooper, Kennet's housing services manager, said: "We will shortly be issuing a report which we commissioned looking at customer satisfaction and there is clear support for the new style of service.

"This has meant that we needed to make some organisational changes to make the service permanent, as some job roles had to change."

As part of the changeover, the contract with Twynham Housing Association, which has run the service since it was set up, was terminated and Kennet took over management responsibility.

As part of the termination arrangements, Kennet has agreed to take on all of the staff employed by Twynham.

The service will continue to be based at offices in New Park Street, Devizes, and Mr Cooper said the public is unlikely to see any difference following the changeover.