Press Releases for 2004
HOMES FOR ASHFORD RESIDENTS ON LOW INCOMES?
13th February 2004Limited social housing in new developments, generally about 7 homes per 50 units, is undermining the hopes of an adequate secure home for many people resident in the Ashford Borough(1). The income required is well beyond the levels obtained from retail work, and even beyond the incomes of professionals such as teachers, social workers, nurses and ambulance workers in the early years of their careers. House prices have risen dramatically 2002-2004, meaning that would-be home buyers face an average price of £129,600(2). Steve Dawe comments:
"Ashford Borough Council knew, as a result of the Ashford's Future capacity study, that over 1700 households in the Borough in 2002 were 'concealed' inside other households. Only social housing is cheap enough for a lot of people to afford: both private rent levels and home prices are outside the reach of many people: most employment expansion in recent years has been in the retail industry which has low wages. Council waiting lists do not generally reflect the needs of single people and not all privately rented property is in adequate condition.
"Ashford Green Party urges the Council to raise the proportion of social housing in new developments to 50%, and to push developers to accept this. If not, then most new homes are just for the benefit of people moving into Ashford rather than people who live here. People did not elect their councillors to neglect our interests. We urge residents to complain to their councillors because the Council is not listening on this subject." ENDS c259 words
FURTHER INFORMATION: Steve Dawe, 01233 645167 or 07904 382203. Contact address: 10 Hillbrow Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 4QH
Notes: 1. The first phase of the Templer Barracks development and the proposed 49 home development on the Oil Depot site in Wye are both likely to have no more than 15% social housing. 'Affordable' housing on such sites would today be priced at more than the average for Ashford as a whole!
2. Kent on Sunday, 8th February 2004. House price increase in Ashford January 2002 to January 2004 were greater than anywhere else in Kent: 47.61% January 2002 to January 2003 and 10.96% January 2003 to January 2004.
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