WHAT A SHOCKER - DUDLEY WAITING LIST FOR COUNCIL HOUSING - WAITING LIST OF SHAME

Chris Bramall, the Liberal Democrat prospective candidate for Stourbridge says: "How many people must have read the figures in the newspapers a couple of days ago and felt their hearts sink?

"I'm talking about the figures from Dudley Council about the number of people on their waiting list for council housing (or 'social housing' as we now have to call it).

7,000 people on the waiting list, and a housing stock of 23,000. No wonder Councillor Simms refused to say how long people on the waiting list were having to wait before being rehoused!

"I'll tell you what I suspect - families, and especially people who want to live in sought-after areas like Stourbridge, will never get to the top of the list, ever, however long they wait. I hope I'm wrong - but I doubt it.

"7,000 people on the waiting list - and Dudley Council is bidding (big deal) for money from central government to be able to build 30 homes!

"Just for once, I won't start trying to claim that it's all the fault of Dudley Council under Labour and Conservative administrations. Because it's Conservative and Labour governments at Westminster who, year after year, have deliberately forbidden local councils from building houses to meet local needs.

"No wonder so many people feel that the Labour and Conservative parties have let them down. But people should remember that they do have an alternative. The Liberal Democrats are different. We want to change Britain fundamentally and for the better. We want to end the stranglehold of Whitehall on British life. Elected local councils should be able to raise money from fair local taxes and rates - and keep the money for local use. They should be able to spend local people's money on meeting local people's needs - not subject to the dictates of Whitehall. Housing is a prime example."

Chris Bramall

e-mail: chrisbramall@googlemail.com