Complaint to Government Office over unused homes

Published on 29th March 2007 in News

A campaigner from Goole has evoked a little-used act in an attempt to force the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) to free up houses set to be knocked down.

Alan Wilson, of Boothferry Road, has contacted the local Government Office to make a Public Request to Order Disposal (PROD) of 59 empty houses in Richard Cooper and Phoenix Streets.

It means that the ERYC must show evidence of viable plans for the houses to the Secretary of State, and demonstrate that they will be carried out within a reasonable amount of time.

Houses on the streets have been bought by the ERYC as part of a neighbourhood regeneration scheme which includes plans to demolish and rebuild two streets and improve properties on other streets within the town.

However, Mr Wilson claims that there is a chronic housing shortage in Goole and said that the properties should be renovated rather than demolished, and turned into affordable housing for families.

"Eleven houses have been empty in excess of 18 months, 14 empty for 13 to 18 months, 30 empty for 7 to 12 months and four have been empty for less than six months.

"The properties are two/three bedrooms and would provide accommodation for 59 families," he wrote in his letter to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber.

"A local developer believes that the properties can be renovated to a very high standard, with work starting within a couple of months, rather than the years a demolition/rebuild scheme would take.

According to Mr Wilson, there has been strong public support for renovation over demolition.

"The idea [of renovation] was tested in the centre of Goole on Saturday, January 27, when 139 signed in favour of renovation, one in favour of demolition and one 'no opinion'.

"A previous open day had attracted a further 50-plus names in favour of renovation.

Mr Wilson has now contacted the Secretary of State in an attempt to force the council to put the houses back on the market, via a PROD - a little-used part of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.

Helen Atha, spokesperson for Government News Network, said: "The law means a member of the public who feels that a piece of publicly owned land is not being properly used can apply to the Secretary of State.

"Mr Wilson invoked that act and the Secretary of State has put it to the council.

"If the council can show they have a viable use for it, then the Secretary of State is not going to be inclined to make them dispose of it.

"If it's a piece of land that has been forgotten, the council can be told to put it back on the market."

The council have 28 days to reply to the letter, which was sent out last week, and will also have to show that it can be put to use within a reasonable time scale.

The type of development will affect what is considered reasonable.

Tom Du Boulay, spokesperson for the ERYC, said: "The council disputes many of the allegations that have been put to the Government Office but there is a process to be gone through and we shall respond appropriately to the Government Office within the stipulated time scales.

"The council's aim through the Advance Goole project was and is to try and revitalise the area and the scheme is backed by significant government funding."

Malcolm Kitching, director of Westdale Services, was interviewed earlier this week by a BBC Look North reporter (above) over his proposal to see the houses in Phoenix Street and Richard Cooper Street renovated rather than demolished.

A news crew from BBC Look North last reported on the condemned streets nearly two years ago, and arrived on Wednesday to film an update on the critical situation, which was expected to be aired on BBC One later that evening.