Seconds out
It seems ridiculous that an average wage wouldn’t buy an average house, but hey, I got drummed out of Econ 101 for asking a question about the Command Economy.
The Times claims there are plans afoot to increase the council tax - or worse - on the legion of second home owners in South Devon - the absentee landlords.
It’s not the Brummie diaspora, who move lock, stock and West Midlands to the South West, that’s being attacked (notice the Times called them ‘draconian measures’), it’s the second homers, those who stay just a few of the choice months and are pricing locals out of the market.
Not being able to afford a place to live within your community is, I suppose the Chelsea on Sea lot would say, the price to pay for living in a community based in such an idyllic environment. But second homers don’t bring jobs and prosperity, like those who move their businesses down here, and don’t bring the vigour and commitment of those who move their lives.
The plan put forward by the Commission for Rural Communities is being examined by the Affordable Rural Housing Commission (who’d have know such things existed). We will, of couse, ask for comments from these two organisations. But what does this mean as the region is plunged headlong into local plans and housebuilding quotas (remember the 50 per cent of carbon emissions are due to building figure?). Wouldn’t it be nice if those developers got back to us.
Posted by Cptn
If you liked this story, you could buy us a coffeeApril 18th, 2006
