Action called for on Empty Homes

8.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Aug 2006

Local Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to tackle this issue of abandoned properties causing a nuisance in Northampton. There are estimated to be 2,896 abandoned properties across the area.

The drive is part of a national Liberal Democrat campaign to tackle the problem of empty homes.

Lib Dem Housing spokesperson, Cllr Sally Beardsworth said:

"We need community action to identify properties that are attracting crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

We can then report these properties to the council so that they can be dealt with appropriately, either by being secured or refurbished and released for people who desperately need housing in the area."

Northampton North Parliamentary spokesperson Andrew Simpson said:

"There are massive housebuilding plans for Northampton in the next few years yet if we tackled some of the empty homes in our town we might not have so much pressure to build on greenfield sites"

"Nationally there are more than 100,000 households in temporary accommodation, and 1 in 10 children live in overcrowded accommodation. Yet there are more than 700,000 empty homes waiting to be filled."

Anyone wishing to report an abandoned home that is causing a nuisance should contact Northampton Liberal Democrats on 0780 744 6700 or e-mail: emptyhomes@northamptonlibdems.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Dan Rogerson MP's Empty Homes campaign was launched on 8th August 2006. Press release available on request from Chris Rusbridge, rusbridgec@parliament.uk

• The campaign is endorsed by the Empty Homes Agency www.emptyhomes.com