Conscientious York council tenants could be rewarded with a say over who moves in next door, if controversial new proposals move ahead.

As part of the York Pride Campaign, some residents in local authority flats could be awarded a "gold star", granting them extra privileges affecting the way their block is run.

Civic leaders hope to allow qualifying tenants power to be consulted on the sort of people allocated to neighbouring flats, perhaps creating some blocks that are designated for people above a certain age. But opposition councillors said they had grave concerns about the plans which could see some areas becoming ghettoised and impossible to manage.

City council leader Steve Galloway said an agreement had already been reached in principle to introduce the gold star status for blocks of council flats.

He said: "The tenants will be contacted to keep communal areas to a high standard and in return the council will give them the opportunity to comment on the type of tenant they would like to see.

"It could result in some blocks of flats being devoted to people aged over 50. It's just one way to stop conflicting lifestyles. An 18-year-old has a very different perception of noise to a pensioner."

But Labour councillor Ruth Potter said "ghettos" of elderly or more vulnerable people could develop, becoming targets for crime and antisocial behaviour.

She added that blocks that do not achieve the gold star status may become "stigmatised", making it even more difficult to tackle underlying social problems.

Roy Hearn, chairman of the York Federation of Residents and Community Associations, said: "These ideals are OK but there is a procedure to follow and we do not want to be stopping people from getting housed."

Updated: 11:06 Friday, September 05, 2003