Peoples Republic of South Devon

Live music

Red Paper Dragon are the first band up on the Melting Pot Live section of Spectralworkshoptv. Click ‘words’ or ‘music’ then press play and unwrap the enigma of the group which takes the guitar band to the next mesmerising level.

Posted by Cptn

June 23rd, 2007

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Rich pickings

Countryside in the People’s Republic will become a ‘theme park for the rich’ unless the Government and local councils tackle the rural housing shortage, the National Housing Federation South West has warned.

At a conference marking one year since Elinor Goodman’s landmark Affordable Rural Housing Commission (ARHC) report, the federation insisted not enough progress has been made on the issue.

New analysis shows that the average house price in England is now eight times average earnings. But in many rural districts average house prices are more than 11 times average local earnings.

The ARHC gave a blueprint for solving the rural housing crisis last year. Although the Government has made some progress on planning reform, more needs to be done to release surplus public land for affordable housing. Too much is lying derelict or being sold off to the highest bidder when it could be used for urgently needed homes.

There has been slow progress on further ARHC recommendations, including restricting the Right to Buy in rural areas and making it easier to bring empty properties back into use.

Helen Williams, assistant director of neighbourhoods at the National Housing Federation, said: “The housing shortage is turning many parts of our countryside into a theme park for the rich: a haven for commuters and second home owners. But this is having a devastating impact on local communities.

“Housing associations stand ready to address the crisis but we need support from the Government and local councils. Our villages and market towns should be vibrant and sustainable places to live - not theme parks for the wealthy.”

Posted by Thin White Duke

June 23rd, 2007

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