WHEN visiting York I usually buy the Evening Press and must comment on the Diary piece about council house sales (February 3).
These sales started in the early days of council houses, but with the important distinction that the price reflected market value and the money was used to build more houses. There was, of course, no obligation to sell.
The shame of the Thatcher legislation was that councils were forced to sell at a massive discount - often at half-price - in the fatuous belief that council tenants voted Labour but owner-occupiers voted Conservative.
This policy did nothing for the Conservative vote, but it deprived communities of thousands of affordable homes which were, and still are, desperately needed.
Ken Wilson,
Woodbridge Road,
Ipswich.
Updated: 10:34 Thursday, February 10, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article