Reading Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats nationally launched a major manifesto pledge as part of our ‘Green New Deal’ to bring a quarter of a million empty homes back into use nationwide, creating some 65,000 jobs. Reading East prospective Liberal Democrat MPGareth Epps has welcomed reports by Reading Borough Council of action to tackle empty properties since the Lib Dem move for the Council to do more.

Gareth moved the motion in October 2007 that got Reading Borough Council to agree to a strategy to take action on empty homes, after the Labour Council took their eye off the ball for many years.

The Liberal Democrats have also uncovered that the true number of empty properties in Reading is 2,543 – many times more than Reading Borough Council claims. The figures are arrived at from Council Tax statistics.

Gareth said:-
“The action being taken by Reading Borough Council as a direct result of Liberal Democrat action is welcome.

“But locally and nationally we could do so much more. Nationally the package announced will provide a vital economic stimulus for the green economy. Locally we need to continue to develop action to tackle empty homes.

“Lib Dems today have set out where our priorities lie: fairness, new jobs and a roof over people’s heads. It’s a scandal that so many empty homes lie abandoned. Our action, locally and nationally, is about providing a real win-win for local communities.”

Editor’s Notes:

The Liberal Democrats today set out plans to bring a quarter of a million empty homes back into use, making homes available for people who need them and creating 65,000 jobs.

There are over 760,000 empty properties across England which are no longer used as homes but can be brought back into use with some investment. People who own these homes will get a grant or a cheap loan to renovate them so they can be used: grants if the home is for social housing, loans for private use.
A full breakdown of the number of empty homes in each English local authority is attached

The plans form part of the economic stimulus package outlined as a core principle of the Liberal Democrat election manifesto. In the first year of the new Parliament, the party would redirect over £3.6bn of spending to create jobs and build up Britain’s infrastructure. In the following years this money will be redirected to other Lib Dem spending priorities and reducing the structural deficit.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today launched the plans with Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable and Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather. Visiting the College of North West London, they met students on construction and engineering courses who would benefit from these new plans.