ECO TOWN: Response by minister was so disappointing

First, he uses the phrase "Council-led community campaign".

Can I make it clear that CAFE, the community group, is independent of Arun District Council and does not need any leadership from the council.

As a matter of fact, as the cabinet member for planning, I have met the group only once, in the very early days of its formation, well before Arun's select committee programme started.

Second, he refers to Arun's waiting list of 4,000 households.

It may be interesting for your readers, as well as Mr Dixon, to note that, of this total, only around 3-400 are assessed by our rigorous points system as being in any severe housing need.

It is this relatively small group, about 10 per cent of the total, where Arun's greatest efforts are rightly placed in trying to find them alternative accommodation.

In the last year, 2007-08, Arun enabled more than 100 new social houses to be built and in 2008-09, it had expected that figure to grow to more than 200.

However, as with every other locality in the country, the current housing crisis has stopped a number of these developments and Arun is now desperately working with all agencies to see if a rescue package can be instigated to keep the desperately-needed supply of housing for people in the greatest need.

Can I say that is why the council was so disappointed in the response from the housing minister Caroline Flint when she came to Yapton on July 30, because she had absolutely no response to our plea for help to provide such immediately-needed assistance.

As a result, the council wrote to her again more than two weeks ago to ask for a meeting to discuss the matter because of its urgency.

Councillor Ricky Bower, Arun cabinet member for planning and ward member for East Preston with Kingston, South View, East Preston

NOTE: All letters must include a name and address which can be withheld by request.

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