In recent times we have become familiar with the term ‘Affordable’ in connection with housing and other property, not only nationally but especially more locally.

I think this is a very misleading word in that it does not mean very much in terms of housing and development.

When we are trying to accommodate local people to live and work here in West Dorset then the word affordable does’nt mean much in getting accommodation.

Who is the house or property affordable to; someone coming from away who can buy at the stroke of a pen rather than someone who has to save any spare income over a long period for an inflated deposit, which in many cases is beyond their reach for many years.

We as a country should be building two types of property.

Firstly property built for those for people who can afford to buy and own, built by the many private construction companies.

Secondly property for those people who wish or can only afford to rent and are built mainly by the local authority or housing associations and can only ever be rented.

This would enable many people on lower incomes to have a home, go some way to cut out the private landlords, some of whom are very unscrupulous and of course it would encourage local people to stay and work locally.

Further to this we should be looking at increasing the council tax on ‘holiday accommodation’ which pushes up prices and takes much needed accommodation away from local people.

The impetus must come from the Government, local authorities and the housing associations who together can overcome this problem.

Coupled with this, I believe, we should tighten up on planning permission.

By this I mean that planning permission, when granted, should ensure the appropriate development is completed within five years, not just started.

This would do away with ‘land banks’ and enable that the local authority to close the file on each planning application.

It would also give the local authority a much clearer idea of what development is needed, including amenities such as shops, school expansions, industrial development and other facilities, for local people and the local area.

Douglas Beazer
BEAMINSTER