Homelessness in Forming Mining Towns
still theft | 18.02.2005 20:02
In a country full of greedy property developers and property speculators ( snakes with their ladders ) and people ownong multiple properties, keeping places empty cones this reportt fromI nside Housing:-
"Homelessness rockets in former coal-mining towns
18 February 2005
"Homelessness rockets in former coal-mining towns
18 February 2005
Regeneration and rising house prices lead to increase in number of homeless families
By Chloe Stothart and Ben Cook
Soaring house prices in former coalfield areas have caused an increase in the number of homeless families seeking to be housed by local authorities.
More than half of the 20 towns that experienced the biggest house price rises in 2004 are former mining towns.
Bellshill, in Strathclyde, recorded the largest hike in prices with the average rising 70% to £103,928, up from £60,988 in 2003.
Neath Port Talbot council was home to two of the seven towns in the top 20.
Prices in Port Talbot increased 50% to £96,846, compared to £64,490 the previous year. In Neath, the average price increased to £115, 847, up from £80,184 in 2003.
Robert Rees, head of housing at Neath Port Talbot council, said the rises had increased the number of homeless families applying to the council for housing. The number of people deemed to be unintentionally homeless and a priority for rehousing in the area rose from 58 to 81 between June 2003 and June 2004.
He said: “Due to the ripple effect there are also families coming onto our waiting list so there is an increased demand for council housing.”
Other councils said regeneration of former mining towns had made them desirable to buyers from outside the area and had pushed prices beyond the reach of some local people.
Robin Staines, head of housing at Carmarthenshire council, said house prices in former mining areas had risen substantially. He said: “It has taken first-time buying out of the realm of the average family. There have been regeneration projects and those areas have really got cleaned up.” "
By Chloe Stothart and Ben Cook
Soaring house prices in former coalfield areas have caused an increase in the number of homeless families seeking to be housed by local authorities.
More than half of the 20 towns that experienced the biggest house price rises in 2004 are former mining towns.
Bellshill, in Strathclyde, recorded the largest hike in prices with the average rising 70% to £103,928, up from £60,988 in 2003.
Neath Port Talbot council was home to two of the seven towns in the top 20.
Prices in Port Talbot increased 50% to £96,846, compared to £64,490 the previous year. In Neath, the average price increased to £115, 847, up from £80,184 in 2003.
Robert Rees, head of housing at Neath Port Talbot council, said the rises had increased the number of homeless families applying to the council for housing. The number of people deemed to be unintentionally homeless and a priority for rehousing in the area rose from 58 to 81 between June 2003 and June 2004.
He said: “Due to the ripple effect there are also families coming onto our waiting list so there is an increased demand for council housing.”
Other councils said regeneration of former mining towns had made them desirable to buyers from outside the area and had pushed prices beyond the reach of some local people.
Robin Staines, head of housing at Carmarthenshire council, said house prices in former mining areas had risen substantially. He said: “It has taken first-time buying out of the realm of the average family. There have been regeneration projects and those areas have really got cleaned up.” "
still theft