| SUMMIT ON SEFTON HOUSING CRISIS |
| Monday, 03 September 2007 | |
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With the supply of affordable housing a mere trickle, hardly anything available for disabled adults and people enduring over-crowded and at times illegal conditions, John Pugh has called a Housing Summit for this Wednesday at Southport Town Hall. Attending will be builders, landlords, planners, councillors and government officials and Housing Association executives. Commenting on the problems John said : "I am very concerned. Whereas those of us with property are enjoying rising property values, those outside the home-owning group are watching their position become more and more homeless. I have people crying and desperate in my surgery and yet watch with mounting concern as scarce available land is used up on luxury flats. "Builders blame the planners, planners blame government policy and landlords blame the benefit system. I am trying to bring them all together. "What the families that see me want is a way forward and that means increasing the supply of appropriate housing in the town and making the most of what we already have. I dont think that is being done fast enough to meet current and future needs. "It hasn't helped that the council has been distracted by its efforts in turning its own houses into the One Vision Housing Association. It has led to a lack of central focus and grip. Added to which too much existing low-rent accommodation is being allowed to decline in quality due to insufficient resources for enforcement. "Too much is being left to the private sector, the market and chance and it will not be enough." |