MP highlights second home scandal at tenants’ forum
North Cornwall’s MP, Dan Rogerson, this week visited the local Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Policy Forum to discuss the issues facing the area.
An acute shortage of affordable housing topped residents’ list as the local MP highlighted the proliferation of second homes as central to the crisis. Local people recalled the mass sell-off of council housing under the Thatcher and Major governments as Mr Rogerson branded as ‘a scandal’ the Conservatives’ failure to re-invest millions of pounds of “Right-to-Buy” revenue in further social housing.
Commenting after the meeting, Mr Rogerson said:
“People are still feeling the pinch of the mass sell-off of affordable housing in the 80s and 90s.
“Labour has continued the Tories folly with a pathetic record on building new homes. The two also share a rank complacency about the effect of second homes on rural communities, with one calling them ‘not a significant factor affecting affordability’ and the other saying they play ‘a significant role in the health of the economy.’
“Meanwhile, many people here were keen to hear how the new Council for Cornwall will handle housing. Understandably tenants and leaseholders alike want reassurance that the new authority will continue the good work North Cornwall has been doing.
“The new Council must take the best of all the present authorities, so I hope . North Cornwall’s very high standard can now be spread across the whole of Cornwall.”
