All is revealed

Published on 27th September 2007 in Letters

Sir - Suddenly it all becomes clear!

A recent article (Councils Forced to Raze Homes) by David Cracknell, political editor of the Sunday Times, explains it all. Documents slipped out in the Commons over the summer break suggest that "the forcible seizing and demolition of thousands of family homes is being driven by Whitehall to meet government targets for house building ... Councils have signed contracts with government departments that require them to compulsorily purchase and bulldoze a certain number of properties each year or face reduced funding."

So the great mystery about what ERYC intend to replace the 117 homes in Richard Cooper Street and Phoenix Street with is revealed - nothing. All ERYC apparently has to do is knock down a certain number of homes (irrespective of their condition) to receive the funding.

The big questions ERYC should now answer are:

how many homes have to be demol-ished to achieve the funding;

where will the funding be ultimately spent; and

what do they intend to do about the chronic housing shortage in Goole?

The answer to the first part is presumably at least 117 homes, but possibly more; the second answer is very probably "not in Goole"; and the third answer is again probably 'nothing'. Meanwhile, the affordability gap widens, making it more difficult for first-time purchasers to get on the housing ladder.

This will ultimately affect every home-owner in Goole, without first-time purchasers - there is no property movement. Not surprisingly, last month council bosses in Salford - the constituency of Hazel Blears, the communities secretary who is responsible for the government's housing programme - rejected plans to renovate local homes in favour of demolition.

Where have we heard that one before?

Alan Wilson

Boothferry Road,

Goole