MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDED IN ROXBURGHSHIRE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Aug 2007

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland, this morning met with the new Communities Minister during a constituency visit and put the case to him for more affordable housing in Roxburghshire.

Jim Hume said:-

“Lack of affordable housing is a national problem which has added consequences for people in the Borders because of the low wages in the area and because of the number of properties being bought as holiday homes, pricing local residents out of the market.

“Some people want to move to be nearer their jobs or loved ones and after numerous housing applications and sometimes years down the line, have got nowhere.

“Often families are living in accommodation which is over crowded and adults are sleeping in the living room or on the floor.

“In particular it’s important that Hawick should have more family accommodation.

The MSP continued:-

“At the start of this year the Liberal Democrat administration in Holyrood announced an investment of £7.2 million would be made available for rented homes and low cost ownership to help get people on the housing ladder.

“This is a useful start on the way to ensuring that there are far fewer housing problems in the Borders, and I sincerely hope that the new government recognises the housing needs of the Borders in the upcoming spending review.

“More affordable housing is desperately needed to alleviate the pressure on the current housing situation in Hawick and the Borders as a whole, and I hope to bring a Scottish Borders Council Housing Task Force delegation to Holyrood to meet with the Minister in the coming weeks.”