Elderly and disabled residents could be allowed to make top-up payments to speed along improvements to their homes in a bid to slash Hounslow's soaring waiting lists.

The move is just one of the options being considered by housing chiefs as they attempt to cut the 16-month average waiting time for adaptations like ramps and stairlifts to council homes.

Other proposals, due to be discussed by Hounslow Council's executive committee tonight, include annual waiting time targets and measures to ensure adaptations are re-used as soon they are no longer needed.

The recommendations came from the council's adults' health and social care scrutiny panel, which investigated why the waiting list had grown from one in 2005/6 to nearly 300 at the latest count.

Cllr Jon Hardy (pictured), chairman of the panel, said: "We appreciate very much that social services and Hounslow Homes are in a hell of a bind, but when you're in a situation like this you shouldn't just accept you don't have enough money.

"There may well be people who, rather than wait for improvements, would be prepared to contribute towards the cost and if that's the case we shouldn't put any barriers in their way.

"This wouldn't harm those who can't afford to pay and residents certainly wouldn't be routinely asked to contribute towards adaptations.

"If my mum needed a stairlift and the council turned round and said we don't have enough money the first thing I would say is how much does it cost and is there any way I can help?"

However, Cllr Hardy warned that even if the suggestions are taken up the waiting list is unlikely to get any shorter in the near future.

He said: "The situation is at best going to stand still over the next couple of years because we have an ageing population and the Government's not providing any more money."

SHOULD RICHER ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE BE ALLOWED TO PAY FOR FASTER IMPROVEMENTS? LET US KNOW IN THE BOX BELOW