Second chance not second homes
Courtesy of the Western Morning News, celebrity chef, John Burton Race, has made an appeal that Dartmouth should not be allowed to become the next ‘Chelsea on Sea’.
Wow, thanks for that, John.
In his article he bemoans the fact that in the two years since he moved into the town he has seen it change and it is now catering for a younger, wealthier elite at the expense of the local population.
(Well, he says he moved into town, he actually opened up his New Angel Restaurant there where a meal for two with wine will easily set you back £150 plus, his new home is a £1 million pad a couple of miles away. The detached mansion near Kingsbridge he first bought wasn’t good enough apparently.
Still, when your business venture is the subject of a televised series and accompanying book, £1 million probably ain’t no great hill of beans.)
He says that if things don’t change he’ll have to move on - a promise which only threatens to tempt many people into actually hoping that things will only get worse.
Since when did we need a celebrity chef of all people to point out the bleeding obvious, and in particular a celebrity chef who is actively part of the problem?
And how or why did he get a page in the WMN to utter his ullage?
It’s time for real action if the problem of affordable homes is to be addressed.
Action like making it obligatory to gain planning permission before turning a home into a second dwelling and restricting their number in any one area.
Action like making second homes subject to business rates that are considerably stiffer than they are now.
Action like the compulsory purchase of second homes in places where the local full time population can’t find anywhere to live.
Action like restoring income tax on the wealthiest to a level where it actually means something and the money used to invest in public programmes.
Action like doubling, trebling the council tax on second homes so that local services can be provided for those living here year-round.
Action like giving parish and town councils the right to say ‘no’ to development until local need is met.
Action. Action. Action.
Posted by Bald Eagle
If you liked this story, you could buy us a coffeeMarch 3rd, 2006
