Reading Liberal Democrats

Reading Liberal Democrats have renewed their call for action by an inert Reading Borough Council to reduce the disgracefully large number of empty homes in the area during National Empty Homes Week.

Following the Lib Dems successful call last October for Reading Borough Council to put in place a strategy to bring almost a thousand empty homes back into use. Lib Dem campaigner Cllr Daisy Benson said:

“At the October meeting of the Council the Lead Member for Housing, Cllr John Ennis agreed to make tackling empty homes a priority after Lib Dem members tabled a motion to Council and, as usual, 2 months later we are still waiting for the Council to investigate a number of empty properties that we brought to its attention months ago.”

“This week (3-7 December) is National Empty Homes Week of Action and we are still waiting for Reading Borough Council to use its powers to bring empty private sector homes back into use. The EHA campaign shows that other Councils are taking action, why can’t RBC?”

Cllr Gareth Epps, Parliamentary Campaigner for Reading East said:

“The Lib Dems have highlighted a number of empty private properties in Reading that could make good homes for families and local people. There is huge pressure on back gardens to make room for new properties and yet these properties are lying empty when they could be put to good use.”

Editor’s Notes –

1. For more information about the Empty Homes Agency goto The Empty Homes Website
2. 35 Christchurch Rd has been empty for almost 5 years. Cllr Daisy Benson asked the Council to investigate it back in 2006 and the Council is not doing anything to bring it back into use.