Yesterday, by a remarkable coincidence, the launch of the Liberal Democrats' manifesto pledge to bring Britain's empty homes back into use came at the same time as a press release from Reading Borough Council, trumpeting the success of the action it has been taking.
Empty homes (which this one had been too) can cause real problems for residents as well as being a stain on the local environment. We've never really understood why Governments are happy to tolerate properties lying empty when people are desperate for a roof over their head.
Here, I've been campaigning to tackle empty homes in Katesgrove and Reading since before my election. I moved a motion in October 2007 which succeeded in bringing forward an Empty Homes Strategy, backed by resources to make it happen, after several frustrating encounters because officers had no such document to follow. Since then and the recruitment of some excellent staff, progress has been made. Some Katesgrove properties have been easier than others - 41 South Street, which was a real eyesore, has been fitted out and painted and should be occupied very soon. A pair of semis on Winchester Road - which were used for dumping - have also been brought back into use. Some others, unfortunately, may take longer for various reasons. The continuing saga of the four tumbledown houses at 67-73 Southampton Street - the possible location for a Community Garden - is a case in point. I have this week pressed the Council again to move this on.
The Council has succeeded in bringing three long-term empty properties into use. But there are over 500 (by their estimation) in Reading, and if you count the figures used by councils for the Council Tax Base calculations - official Government figures - the real total in Reading rises to over 2,500.
I'm personally delighted that Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have put this at the heart of our manifesto. It is a real win-win. It creates jobs; makes much better use of resources (and is sustainable in the true sense of the word) and embodies fairness. Much more could be done to remove red tape - which slows down the processes of bringing empty properties back into use. The Liberal Democrat action plan would take the good start made in Reading following a Liberal Democrat lead. It would take it nationally, providing thousands of families with a roof over their head; reducing the need for inappropriate development; and creating 65,000 jobs in the process. That's the sort of good news we like. Now over to the other parties from whom on empty homes the silence is deafening.
Im glad your campaigning on this important issue. Its also a Green Party Issue, http://www.readinggreenparty.org.uk/node/460
Posted by: Adrian Windisch | Friday, 15 January 2010 at 21:47