News Date: Monday 24th October 2005
Tim demands Government make use of 7,294 empty homes in West Sussex
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has estimated that there are a staggering 7,294 homes in West Sussex that are neither presently occupied nor marked for future occupation. Today Tim is calling on the Government to make use of these abandoned houses before they embark on their multi-million pound house building scheme.
Tim's colleague and neighboring MP Francis Maude has put forward a ten-minute rule Bill in the House of Commons which would force the Government to match the building of any new houses with extra services such as more hospitals and better public transport. Tim is a sponsor of Mr Maude's Bill and thinks it's essential that the Government look closer at the consequences of their housing plans for local infrastructure and environment.
Tim commented:
"It is plain madness to build thousands of more houses at great financial and environmental expense and not to even to assess whether these empty homes would be suitable for re-development. The Government's plans are ill judged and need to be urgently re-assessed in the light of the Deputy Prime Minister's admission that so many houses are lying empty.
"Chaos will ensue if the Government continues with their plans to build such a large number of many new houses. Hospitals and roads are already over used and will not be able to cope with the influx of people that John Prescott's plans will entail. The Government must think again before they embark on a this disastrous scheme."
ENDS
Note to Editor:
1) Francis Maude's Bill will come before Parliament again in July 2006 and if it is passed the Government will have to provide increases in transport, water capacity, education and health services and transport links to match their increase in new houses built in West Sussex.
?, Tim Loughton MP , 2005
