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Spin on housing shortage

12:38pm Tuesday 6th July 2010 in


BLAMING Coun Steve Galloway and the Lib Dems, as Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing does (Letters, July 2) for York’s “chronic housing shortage” is Labour spin at deflecting the blame from its own door.

The main reason for there being no progress with York Central is York council’s 50 per cent affordable housing policy. It is this policy, which was York’s Labour Party’s brainchild, that has caused the shortage, and damaged the house-building industry in York. It has been in force since April 2005 and has produced only five affordable completions in five years.

Despite the policy’s undeniable and catastrophic failure, it is Coun Simpson-Laing, not Coun Galloway, who continues to support it.

Blaming the abolition of Yorkshire Forward and regional housing targets by the current Government is just more spin.

Neither of these has had any bearing on the production of homes in York, and it is locally controlled planning policies that allow or – as in York’s case – have stifled and prevented development.

Coun Simpson-Laing and her Labour Party are as much, if not more, culpable than the Lib Dems for the policies that have done the damage, and her attempts to duck the blame won’t wash. Paul S Cordock, Durlston Drive, Strensall, York.

Comments(9)

mickrick says...
6:43pm Tue 6 Jul 10

hear hear , couldnt have put it better myself. When will this woman wake up to reality. I would be interested to know what her background is, like what job she does or has done or has she ever done any job....just curious to know where she is coming from! other than bleating on and having a pop at other councilors. Im sure there is someone out there who can fill us in ? Times are hard enough without her making them harder. Building houses means jobs, and makes the economy succeed with local businesses picking up essential trade. So why make it hard, what agenda is this woman on.
I would like to know as I am sure would many others. Please dont insult our inteligence with a total fogg of political guff. This is local stuff, people dont care about your political ambitions. We all want our town to prosper and flourish, and not be used as a hobby horse to further your poitical ambitions

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Duck in the hedge says...
8:51pm Tue 6 Jul 10

In response to mickrick's blog.......
Councillor Simpson-Laing was Labour candidate for East Yorkshire in the 2001 general election, which the conservatives held with an increased majority of 10.8% (see Wikipedia for East Yorkshire). Clearly the councillor has (or had) bigger political ambitions.
It is also clear from her stance on the 50% affordable policy that she has no understanding of its impact on housebuilding in York. The policy has choked land supply, and stifled development. Defending the policy is following the stance taken by other Labour politicians; Yvette Cooper has done the same in Wakefield where Barratt made a legal challenge against the policy, and Hazel Blears made an unsuccessful attempt to block Hammersmith & Fulham council abandoning it's unrealistic targets. Its driven by a party-line and ideology - labour bullying builders to solve the affordable housing shortage. Thankfully they are not in power any longer and the new government will be more realistic..... and fair minded !

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micky moodys hat says...
10:17am Wed 7 Jul 10

Just google her name, it turns up all sorts although nothing of any great interest to be honest. Lives down Leeman road and is a professional comitte member by the look of it

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mickrick says...
7:07pm Wed 7 Jul 10

thanks micky, are you telling me she does nowt then ie a sponger off the council tax payers of york.
So has this woman ever worked in any capacity at all in the real world of having to make a crust to cover the bills feed the kids and pay the mortgage ? So how on earth is it that this person is in a position to influence what happens in our lovely town.

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micky moodys hat says...
10:05pm Wed 7 Jul 10

No mate I'm suggesting you google her name and draw your own conclusions from the stuff it turns up.

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Cold_as_Christmas says...
11:32pm Wed 7 Jul 10

Who paid her Open University fees?

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mickrick says...
8:50am Thu 8 Jul 10

she donates monthly to the rspca and the cat protection league which shows she has a kind heart, i bet her house is moggy world.

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micky moodys hat says...
9:43am Thu 8 Jul 10

Cold_as_Christmas wrote:
Who paid her Open University fees?
You know C as C I don't particularly like the woman, (I have seen her when she is off duty and comes over as quite a horrible piece of work)but I would bet she paid them herself as one thing she does appear to be is clean when it comes to things like that. The insinuation you are making does you no credit at all really

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petethefeet says...
3:48pm Thu 8 Jul 10

A few years ago, I trawled through the CYC website to see what Councillors were decaling by way of making a living. If I recall correctly, Tracey was working part-time and therefore I included her in 'less-than-50%' who did appear to have some means of support. I also believe that Tracey is married and she certainly has a daughter.

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