IT is becoming slightly boring reading the argument about affordable housing. The fact is that there really is very little, if any, affordable housing in York.

People are finding it extremely hard, if not impossible, to get on the so-called housing ladder. Why? The answer is that nobody is building starter type homes because they are not going to build at a loss.

This is brought about because of the percentage of affordable homes that have to be made. It makes no difference if it’s 50 per cent or ten per cent starting at ten houses or 20, it still puts that obstacle there.

You only have to look at the latest application for the Clifford Street fire station. It’s not rocket science to see why the amount of homes come in at a level that means they don’t break through that numbers barrier and why they put a restaurant in to take up the space.

Nobody seems to care, and yes it will bring in extra jobs, but how many will pay a wage high enough to make a home purchase a viability?

Brian Watson, Beckfield Lane, York

 

AFTER the war, when there was a great shortage of housing, the government built pre-fab houses.

These were meant to last ten years, but are still standing.

To me, a newly-wed bride, they were modern and comfortable, and I would have been very happy to have one.

They were put up in weeks instead of months and would surely be a solution to today’s problems.

Mrs M Allis, Redcoat Way, Acomb, York

 

MAUREEN ROBINSON raises the issue of aparthotels and who can live in them (Letters, November 25).

These odd buildings are designed as a consequence of the failed "affordable housing" policies.

If the developers put up “regular” flats for anyone to rent or buy they are forced to hand over 20 per cent of their product at a loss.

They won’t build in York under those conditions.

But by designating the flats as a form of serviced hotel accommodation the affordable demands are side-stepped.

It is time to get rid of these failed affordable policies completely and allow private builders to get on with their job of building homes for private buyers.

Social housing is the responsibility of government.

Matthew Laverack, Lord Mayors Walk, York

 

FORMER councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing questions whether or not Matthew Laverack has a social conscience (Letters, November 23).

Mr Laverack provided significant funding to set up a school in my home village in Malawi.

Without him and other generous businessmen in York it would never have happened.

Matthew Laverack has continued to help us with financial and moral support.

In addition, he sponsors two African students at our Mwabi Institute of Education and Technology every year by paying for their tuition and food.

For me, Matthew is quite a generous man and helpful indeed.

I am also aware that he supports other good causes in York and elsewhere but he does it quietly and often anonymously.

I should say that he is a man with a social conscience.

Wishart Malinga, Tang Hall Lane York

 

ONE day last week a friend said to me: “You don’t know what I’ve just seen.”

I asked: “What?”

He said: “I’ve just seen a postman, delivering Her Majesty’s mail in short trousers and bare legs on a cold windy day like this.”

I replied: “I wouldn’t mind if they delivered my mail on a cold, frosty morning in their underpants, if only they delivered at 4.15am and not as they do now at 4.15pm.”

PS I would like to thank all the people who wrote to me regards our missing sparrows. Some were very interesting and informative.

Ken Holmes, Cliffe Common, Selby

 

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day – together with International Men’s Day – are two normal dates in the calendar supported by those who so wish.

So why is it the scholarly intellectuals at the University of York are tearing their hair out over something the rest of us care little about?

Life is too short to be worrying about trivia.

Peter Rickaby, West Park, Selby

 

IT has been announced that York Hospital is to recruit 60 nurses from abroad.

Can anyone give me a valid reason why – please?

Keith Baldry, Lowfield Road, Barlby