Local MPs back Carrick Housing at national meeting in Westminster
Cornish MPs yesterday met with Carrick Housing, in Westminster at the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) – the group responsible for the management and repairs of council housing in Carrick.
Attended by Matthew Taylor MP, Julia Goldsworthy MP and Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesman, Dan Rogerson MP, the meeting was judged an all round success. The Government heard that ALMOs have already a made a significant contribution to improving housing conditions and: with a long term future, ALMOs could make further improvements to community regeneration and have the potential to increase the supply of affordable housing in Cornwall.
In particular Matthew and Julia, Carrick Housing’s local MPs, were pleased to hear that Carrick Housing will be one of three pilot studies looking at the potential to build more council housing in Cornwall. Over the last three years Carrick Housing has invested £16 million in new kitchens, bathrooms and heating and by 2008 every council house in Carrick will have modern heating, bathrooms and kitchens, already proven to increase good health and well being.
Commenting after the meeting, Chair of Carrick Housing, Gerald Chin-Quee said:
"In the last three years Carrick Housing has made a really positive impact on the lives of Council house tenants. We have improved the houses and the housing service, but we realise the real challenge is meeting the affordable housing shortage in Cornwall."
Matthew Taylor MP (Truro and St Austell) added:
"I meet many residents of Carrick Housing’s who are delighted with the improvements that have been made to their homes. The Government has made the right decision in initiating ALMOs. However, they must now seriously address the affordable housing crisis in Cornwall by implementing the suggestions made by both Carrick Housing and more widely in the Affordable Rural Housing Commission’s recent report"
Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth and Camborne) said:
"After the launch, I was delighted to hear further details of Carrick Housing's plans for the future. We all know affordable housing in Cornwall is scarce, so I will be keeping up pressure on the Government to ensure that they respond to the needs of local people who should have the opportunity live in decent and affordable housing in the community where they grew up. Carrick Housing have already delivered the decent housing for 3800 families. We now need to Government implement our proposals for increasing affordable housing."
