News from Cornwall Labour

Penryn shoppers flock to sign Labour petition for affordable housing

Hundreds of shoppers at a busy Penryn supermarket on Saturday signed Labour’s petition to meet the need for affordable local housing. Those signing ranged from students to pensioners, and included people losing work locally because of the slowdown in the construction industry.

Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Falmouth and Truro Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“Many people’s dream of finding a place of their own will be put on hold if developers do not proceed as planned with major developments like that of the former Richard Lander school site in Truro.

“Labour in Government is taking action to help people keep their homes despite the credit crunch. Carrick Housing has funding to build new social housing; and some local housing associations in Cornwall are also purchasing unsold homes, in developments affected by the downturn in the housing market, with the help of Government funds.

“It is really important that local authorities also work with developers in a way that maximises the opportunities that are available. This petition will go to the new Cornwall Council, which will be responsible for housing and homelessness in future, as well as for sustainable economic development.

“We want to move the debate forward. The people supporting our petition are not saying every controversial development proposal in Falmouth and Truro must be allowed to go ahead. But they recognise that if more affordable homes are needed, new housing does need to be built.”

The petition can also be signed online at http://charlottemackenzie.com.

Other news from Cornwall Labour

• MacKenzie backs children's charities in Cornwall - 12 March 2010
• Labour invests £69m more in Cornwall's schools - 9 March 2010
• Cornwall's Lib Dems run for cover after broken promises - 9 March 2010