NEW
ROMNEY NEWS
The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC), the Government's
adviser on issues affecting people and communities in rural
England, is returning to Romney Marsh on Wednesday 28 June
to report back the findings of its national inquiry into
rural housing, which local people provided views toward.
The CRC first visited Romney Marsh in November
2005, gathering the views of people living and working locally
about the impact of rural housing problems and, importantly,
what actions they wanted to see to address their concerns.
Their views, and the views of people in other rural communities
across England, are set out in the CRC's new report: 'Rural
Housing - a place in the countryside?' (released 8 May).
The report reveals the very difficult personal circumstances
and human costs for some individuals and rural communities
in Romney Marsh caused by inappropriate and unaffordable
housing provision. It also sets out wide-ranging actions
that communities themselves would like to see happen to
tackle their concerns.
This is the CRC's final visit to communities across England
to feedback what the inquiry found, what recommendations
have been put forward to Government and what action will
be undertaken next.
Caroline Cotterell, who led the inquiry said, "People
we spoke to on Romney Marsh told us how competitive the
local housing market was, with very little social housing
or affordable houses available to buy or rent. They told
us of their concerns about changes in the local community
as young people and families are being forced to move away,
and for elderly and less mobile people who are unable to
move to suitable homes. People were passionate about protecting
the character of the Marsh, but argued strongly that carefully
designed, new development of social housing and affordable
houses to buy and rent was necessary, to help people with
local connection stay close to families and friends. Above
all, local people wanted to use their knowledge of the Marsh
to have more say in the decisions affecting their area,
to ensure that new housing development meets local needs."
The acute scale of the affordable housing problem in rural
areas across the South East is strikingly revealed in a
recent discussion paper by the CRC, 'Housing Needs in Rural
England'. The CRC estimates that 8,752 affordable rural
homes are needed in the South East each year over the next
five years to meet expected new housing needs and address
the current backlog of people in needs. This is the highest
figures of any region in England, where 70% of new households
forming in rural areas over the next five years will be
unable to afford market prices or rents.
People attending the CRC's event will also hear from regional
and local speakers about their perspective on local housing
issues. Jennifer Shaw, the Rural Housing Enabler at Action
with Communities in Rural Kent, will be outlining current
initiatives and opportunities for local people to be involved
in shaping the housing decisions being considered in the
local area.
Jennifer Shaw welcomed the CRC's return visit, commenting,
" I am delighted that the Commission for Rural Communities
is taking the time to return to Romney Marsh to feedback
the findings of their rural housing inquiry.
Action with Communities in Rural Kent has been working with
parishes across the county to help them deliver affordable
housing schemes for local people for the past eight years.
The scheme at Newchurch in Romney Marsh is just one example
of many successful schemes that the Rural Housing Enabler
Project has supported. These help our rural communities
to flourish by maintaining a stock of affordable housing
for local people."
The findings from the inquiry have been used by the CRC
as part of their submission of recommendations to the Government's
Affordable Rural Housing Commission (ARHC), which reported
its findings on 17 May.
The event will be held at Ivychurch Village Hall, Ivychurch,
Romney Marsh on Wednesday 28 June from 6.30 to 9pm. For
further information regarding the event please contact Katie
Sharrock on 01242 533239 or 07900 608221.
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