Press Release 29 May 2007

 

Irresponsible Actions of New LibDem Leader “NOT IN MY BACK YARD”

The new LibDem Leader of the Council, Cllr Ross Henley, is trying to cancel a major affordable housing project of 23 homes for Wellington because it is planned for his Ward. We have a waiting list for homes across the Deane in excess of 3,000 families, 605 of which want houses in Wellington, even thinking about doing this is a crass and amazingly stupid act.

It will send completely the wrong message to our partners in this venture, Raglan Housing and the Housing Corporation who together are investing in excess of £2.4 million in affordable housing for Wellington and no contribution from the Deane other than the land. Any reduction of the schemes would inevitably lead to withdrawal of the offer and the loss of these much needed homes for Wellington.

This is pure narrow mindedness on the part of Cllr Henley and clearly demonstrates that he is only concerned about political point scoring not the well being of residents throughout Wellington and Taunton Deane.

The desperate need is well known, an independent survey carried on behalf of the Council in 2004 identified a need for 564 affordable houses to rent or buy every year for the foreseeable future.

Cllr John Williams said “This was a top priority of our previous Conservative administration and remains so, we will work constructively with the new administration to deliver as many affordable homes as possible and take forward the major plans we had started implementing. Equally we shall be very robust in defending excellent schemes such as these ready to go in Wellington that have been secured by the dedication, hard work and commitment of our officers. We must not allow the narrow mindedness of political opportunism to prevent us delivering what is an absolute imperative for all in our community, the right to a decent, affordable home.”

 

Ends  

 

Notes to Editors

· The 23 houses are planned for completion this year but to achieve this the present uncertainty must be resolved quickly.

· There are three sites together providing 23 houses and drawing in £2,415,546 of external funding. TDBC contribution is the land only. Any amendments to the scheme could lose this from Taunton Deane and leave us without much needed extra housing.

· The schemes have been granted planning consent following full consultation with all concerned and were passed at the Planning Committee with virtually unanimous approval, a democratic vote.

· Any action to cancel or reduce the scheme would be sending seriously negative messages to our development and funding partners who will be essential to us in the future if we are to deliver anything like the number of affordable houses required.

· In 2004 the ARK Consultants report was provided after a Somerset County wide survey and it determined the need as being 564 affordable dwellings per annum to 2011 (to rent and buy)

· Despite a large stock of Council houses in Wellington the average number available for re-let is only in the order of 40 dwellings per year. With the present waiting list of 605 that represents a wait of 15 years to clear the backlog assuming the status quo remains in terms of waiting list and house numbers, we know it will not! Hence the urgent need for extra houses.

· At present the planned amount of affordable housing for Wellington amounts to 150 dwellings including Cades Farm, more are needed, not less.