Does a local restriction on every new house make a difference?

In the Yorkshire Dales National Park, they have already started doing this.

They've understood the need - and because they have a vision to support local people, which has itself been supported enthusiastically by the Westminster government, every new rural house HAS to be affordable for local people.

If it's not, the developers won't be able to sell it!

And we're not talking about the kind of 'affordable' which makes you laugh bitterly here, either - no £120,000 for an 'ideal first time home', no nonsense.

One simple change to the planning system - no new build EXCEPT for local need - and local people who need a home will be able to afford one, families will be able to afford to stay close to each other, communities will be able to survive.

What is stopping this from happening?

Fear.

The fear felt by our politicians.

The fear that people will call them discriminatory, the fear that people will vote against them.

A groundless fear, and a needless fear

The Race Relations Commission supports strengthening communities.

Planning authorities have ALREADY taken this step in some areas.

And local people vote FOR politicians who help them - and, eventually, AGAINST politicians who are too afraid to stand up for local people.

The time has come

Cymuned is a housing and communities pressure group which also supports the Welsh language.

We are calling on your Council to change their planning policies so that every new house is for local people only - no new build except for LOCAL NEED. Building new houses can only be justified where there is a real local need for them.

It's time to ditch complicated, confusing rules which let greedy companies sell new houses to wealthy incomers but which stop local families from building homes for their children on their own land.

It's time to call a halt to ridiculous prices that no-one local can afford.

It's time to stop other people profiting from our misfortunes.