2 responses from Mr Ewen Cameron (Individual)
1. Mr Ewen Cameron (Individual) : 5 Jun 2008 07:29:00
To which part of the Report does your representation relate?
Paragraph or Section
The Preferred Option - PO13 - Grange-over-Sands Functional Area 2025
Please state as clearly as you can the exact part of the Report you are commenting on by quoting the page number (if known), paragraph number, option name or number, or the number of the map, figure or table.
Option 3 - Alternative Directions of Growth
Paragraphs 5 to 12 (Cartmel and Allithwaite)
Do you support, oppose or have an observation about this part of the Report?
Oppose
Please write your comment or explain your reasons for supporting or opposing this part of the Report. You may also wish to refer to the tests of soundess in the glossary of the Preferred Options document before making your comments.
There are existing major housing problems in Cartmel and Allithwaite that the proposals would not address, and would probably worsen. The Option blindly considers the case for new building without examining ways of better use of existing housing. There are probably around 100 under-used holiday/second homes in the area. Ways should be found of converting these to residential accommodation for locals.
What change(s) would you suggest for this part of the Report?
The community in Lower Allithwaite Parish (and particularly Cartmel) is under serious threat from second/holiday housing. Many houses coming onto the market (including ones that have been used previously as accommodation for locals) are being bought as second/holiday homes. This has pushed up the price of housing beyond locals' means and is resulting in "Ghost" areas for much of the time. Lower Allithwaite is an environmentally sensitive conservation area and the loss of farming land or countryside to significant development is highly undesirable. Recent experience in the area has also shown that new-build housing is likely to attractcommuters rather than local residents. This just puts more pressure on local infrastructure resources and increases road travel (particularly by private car).
Please use this space if you wish to set out a new option for consideration.
SLDC must adopt a radical and bold approach to achieving improved housing availability. Although major new housing development might be an option around large towns (such as Kendal and Ulverston) it is not the answer for most rural areas. Many villages in the District have large proportions of their housing under-utilised due to its use as second/holiday homes. This pushes up prices and destroys local communities. It also has very limited benefit for the local economy. A firm policy is required to protect housing for local occupancy and to discourage second/holiday homes. Council Tax should be raised to 150% or 200% and National Government should be asked to increase Stamp Duty for such purchases. Such action would be very popular with local residents and would probably be supported by other areas (the South West, Yorkshire Dales etc) that have high levels of second homes.
Please indicate if you wish to be notified when the Core Strategy has been:
Submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination
Adopted by the District Council
2. Mr Ewen Cameron (Individual) : 18 Jun 2008 14:38:00
A typed or handwritten document was submitted. This has been scanned and can be downloaded below: