Press Releases for 2005
HOUSING FOR ALL - Shepway
21 April 2005Kent Green Party wrote to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on 21st February 2005. The Party asked Mr Prescott to provide councils with the resources to bring empty properties throughout Kent and Medway into use. He has not replied. Typically, councils have no more than one empty homes officer who pursues property owners to bring empty property into use. Kent Green Party believes that the Government should provide sufficient resources for each district council or Unitary Authority within Kent to have at least two empty property officers. The latest empty property figures (1) show a minimum of 21478 empty homes in Kent. These are distributed as follows: Ashford 1343; Canterbury 1093; Dartford 1097; Dover 2186; Gravesham 1283; Maidstone 1160; Sevenoaks 965; Shepway 2447; Swale 914; Thanet 3728; Medway 2900; Tonbridge and Malling 1252; Tunbridge Wells 1110.
Dr Hazel Dawe, Green Party candidate for Folkestone and Hythe, comments:
"Shepway Green Party has already offered a comprehensive set of policies(2) to improve Shepway District Council's poor housing record available direct from me on 01233 645167 or on our website at www.kentgreenparty.org.uk What we have yet to do is to persuade John Prescott to give Shepway the resources it needs to bring empty properties into use. House prices in the area are far too high for first time buyers and people on modest and middle incomes. Housing is a basic need which the Labour Government is not addressing in its policies or in this election. Let's have a reply and some action, Mr Prescott."
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FURTHER INFORMATION: Dr Hazel Dawe on 01233 645167 or 07747 014487. Address as above or alternate contact Steve Dawe, Press Officer, on 01233 645167 or 07747 036192.
Notes: 1. From the Empty Homes Agency:
http://www.emptyhomes.com/resources/factsfigures/homeless/sehome.htm; 2. Shepway housing policies report by Shepway Green Party can be found under RESOURCES in the KENT section of the Kent Green Party website at www.kentgreenparty.org.uk
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