Press Releases for 2005

KENT GREEN PARTY URGES DEPUTY PM TO PROVIDE COUNCILS WITH MORE EMPTY HOMES OFFICERS

10th February 2005

Kent Green Party has urged Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to provide councils with the resources to bring empty properties throughout Kent and Medway into use. 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. Steve Dawe comments:

"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. These figures do not include persistently empty derelict industrial sites which could be used for housing. Similarly, we can only speculate about the potential housing which could be created by building on stilts above existing surface car parks. "Kent Green Party believes that the Government must provide the resources needed for extra empty homes officers throughout Kent. This would dramatically reduce pressure upon greenfield sites, and help to regenerate Kent's urban centres where empty properties and sites are situated."

ENDS c226 words FURTHER INFORMATION: Steve Dawe, Press Officer, on 01233 645167 or 07747 036192. Address as above. Notes: 1. From the Empty Homes Agency: www.emptyhomes.com/resources/factsfigures/homeless/sehome.htm

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29th March 2005