ARE the 3,000 people on the social housing waiting list in this area going to have to wait even longer before they are offered a place?

The Government’s plan to force housing associations to sell to tenants who exercise their right to buy will worsen the availability of affordable secure social housing. Following the original right to buy legislation brought in by the Thatcher government in the 1980s, only one new council house was built for every 10 sold – forcing many into the private rented sector.

Housing associations are absolutely against this policy because they will be forced to sell properties to tenants at a large discount. The housing associations will be reimbursed by forcing councils to sell off their most expensive properties, but on the open market and not to tenants.

The Green Party opposes this disastrous policy and calls for a programme of building decent social housing for people on low incomes.

Phillip Oliver

Wolverley