HUNNEMAN CALLS FOR FAIRNESS IN NEW HOUSING INITIATIVE FOR WEST BERKSHIRE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Oct 2009

Roger Hunneman said in response to the announcement of the newly announced West Berks Council Shared Equity Scheme:-

"We welcome initiatives that can help families get homes and the proposed equity deposit scheme costing £500,000 does indeed help around 23 households to purchase property with a further 20 being helped into shared ownership at a cost of £60,000 - BUT it is at the expense of a possible 11 new build affordable rented homes which could be facilitated by the same Council funding - providing 11 homes for those who can only afford to rent a home from a Housing Association rather than purchase."

"Clearly there is a moral choice here, do we help those 23, some of whom might be able to rent privately and who may not be in desperate housing need or do we help those who really do not have any other option but to rent from a Housing Association and who are likely to be those with the maximum numbers of points on the Common Housing Register?"

"Nobody claims that these decisions are easy but Liberal Democrats believe in fairness for all and call upon the Conservative run West Berkshire Council to look again at the use of these limited off-site developer contributions to facilitate affordable rented housing through a Housing Association for those in most housing need and not spend the money on an equity deposit scheme for the less needy.