- Cymraeg
- English
 |
Peter Black a Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Gorllewin De CymruYn cynrychioli Aberafan, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, Castell-nedd, Ogwr, Port Talbot ac Abertawe |
 |
A blight on every community
2012 Mehefin 10 11:21 AM
Gan Peter Black yn Seaside News June 2012
Gan Peter Black yn Seaside News June 2012
Official figures show that there are just under 22,000 private sector homes, which have lain empty for 12 months or longer around Wales. About 1,000 of those are in Bridgend.
Long term empty homes are a blight on local communities. They are unsightly, can attract anti-social elements and often cause problems for neighbouring properties due to disrepair and damp penetration. They are also a waste of an important resource.
With 90,000 people on housing waiting lists in Wales, and many people unable to get a mortgage, the demand for homes is high. Bringing these homes back into use must be a priority.
The Welsh Government need a strategy that directs resources where they are needed the most and spreads best practice to those councils who are not as active as they should be in tackling this problem.
Last year saw very few new homes built in Wales. There are only so many brownfield sites that can be developed. In general many of us would wnat to avoid building on green fields if possible. Bringing 22,000 new homes back onto the market is the best way to meet demand whilst protecting and improving our environment. We need to get better at it.