"Government plans on council houses would be bad for South Lakeland" - Farron

2.15.34pm GMT Thu 15th Feb 2007

Following the Government's announcement today of plans to increase the number of people able to buy their council houses, local MP Tim Farron has given a guarded reaction. The Department of Communities and Local Government propose to allow people to buy as little as 10% of the value of their home to acquire the 'right to own' the property.

The number of people waiting to be housed by the local authority in South Lakeland is already extremely high and the plans, announced by the Communities and Local Government Minister Ruth Kelly, would only exacerbate this situation.

Speaking after the announcement, Mr Farron said:

"The number of people waiting to be housed in South Lakeland is already extremely high, and whilst the intention behind these plans is laudable, I am a little worried by them.

"The number of people applying for housing is bound to skyrocket, this is another example of the policies of this government making problems worse, not better."