Monday 14 February 2011

Coalition Housing 2011-2015

Ploughing my way through the Affordable Homes Programme - Framework 2011-2015 (which at first sight appears to be a bit of a 'dogs-breakfast') I was struck with this section dealing with "Traveller Pitch Funding":
"1.39 The aim of the Traveller Pitch Funding stream within the Affordable Homes Programme is to support local authorities, housing associations and other delivery partners to provide good quality public sites to help meet the need for accommodation for these communities.
1.40 The HCA seeks proposals to develop new sites, add new pitches onto existing sites or to improve existing provision for travellers. We will welcome offers from local authorities, housing associations and traveller community groups working with Registered Providers. Although we will consider standalone proposals for single schemes, we encourage smaller providers to work with housing associations and other larger Investment Partners to include Traveller Pitch Funding proposals as part of a larger Affordable Homes package.
1.41 As a group, travellers remain one of the most disadvantaged in the country experiencing deep inequalities, with very poor outcomes in health and education in particular.
" (my emphasis)
Whilst 1.40 is something that those seeking accommodation will feel is really good to know - not; one has to ask, in respect of 1.41, whose fault is that?

Admittedly this paper is not one that is easy to assimilate at first reading, however it does seem that Cameron and Shapps have got themselves into a bit of an "Eric" here!

10 comments:

john in cheshire said...

I agree. These people have chosen to remain outside normal society, therefore they shouldn't expect us taxpayers to be subsidising them. They can't have it both ways.

WitteringsfromWitney said...

jic: And we thought Brown was bad! This lot are a thousand times worse, believing in this equality and diversity crap!

William said...

"This lot are a thousand times worse, believing in this equality and diversity crap!"

No difference all of the political class follow the same pipers Herman and Barroso.

WitteringsfromWitney said...

W: So thats where Cameron gets his genes from? And there was I thinking he shopped in Knightsbridge or Notting Hill!

Tufty said...

WfW - I think you've missed the point here.
Dave is concerned about social mobility, so he wants to force more people into caravans. Affordable housing and social mobility in one go!

WitteringsfromWitney said...

T: Brilliant observation! Almost had a laundry problem! Damn and I missed that!

Want a job to feed me 'funnies' that I can use?

Tufty said...

WfW - thanks for the compliment. I'll send you some if I think of any, but you are much more on the ball with current affairs than I am.

Edward Spalton said...

My next door neighbour has a grandson, aged about 14, I think. He goes to the local comprehensive.

As part of his education, there was a talk from a gipsy/traveller who told the class what a hard and difficult life it was. To which the young man replied "Why don't you get a job?" (He comes from a family which believe in that sort of thing.

Then they had a lecture from a Muslim, telling the children how badly Muslims are treated in this country and what a hard time they have. "Why don't you go somewhere else then? If it's as bad as you say, I wouldn't stay". the youngster said.

As a result, he was excluded from school - not for very long - but he has a permanent tag of "racist" attached to him now.

Weekend Yachtsman said...

Hang on a minute there.

We know how residential developments over a certain size have to include a certain element of "affordable" social housing these days (those are the cooncil hooses round the back of the scheme); does this mean that in future they'll have to include pikey pitches too?

Has anyone told Barratt? They might find it hard to sell any homes on such schemes, I reckon...

WitteringsfromWitney said...

WY: What this means is that any request for provision of a travellers pitch would need to work with the local authority, housing association, developer and such a pitch be included in the plans.

Don't know about Barratts, but probably won't be a problem for Berkeley Homes as the head of that company was reared by travellers and still exhibits some of their characteristics!