Have your say on Housing Strategies for Dover District.

• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  12 February 2010     18:2740421
  #1      
  DDC Info
  
  **
  
  As part of ongoing work to make sure we provide the right type of housing in the district, and continue to help improve existing housing, the Council has developed three draft strategies - and your views are sought.
   
  The draft Private Sector Housing Strategy 2010-2015 sets out Dover District Council's priorities over the next five years to secure improvements in the condition of existing housing across the district. Over 85% of housing in the district is in the private sector, either owner-occupied or privately rented.
   
  The draft Older Persons Housing Strategy 2010-2015 sets out how the Council will work to meet the housing needs of older people. It deals with enabling new homes and improving the condition of existing homes. It also deals with providing a range of information and support services to enable older people to live independently.
   
  The draft Affordable Housing Delivery Plan 2010-2015 sets out how DDC will help to deliver high quality affordable housing to meet the needs of all sections of the community, across the whole of the district. The need to provide more affordable homes was part of recent findings from a Strategic Housing Market Assessment.
  
  DDC is consulting on these three drafts to support work on a new Housing Strategy 2010-2015, which will sit alongside the Council's Local Development Framework.
  
  Copies of the three draft strategies can be seen at
  www.dover.gov.uk
  or at DDC offices. Please email comments to Andrew.Baker@dover.gov.uk or for more information, please contact 01304 872223. The closing date for comments is 26 March 2010.
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  13 February 2010     10:0440476
  #2      
  As this one is in danger of slipping off the radar I thought I would inject a bit more life into it. I know many of us are animated about the prospects of new houses arriving en masse but also concerned about the state of the existing housing...so if you want to add your voice to the DDC debate...now's your chance.
  
  
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Guest 690

  • Registered: 10 Oct 2009
  • Posts: 4,150
  13 February 2010     10:3940478
  #3      
  Interesting this one PaulB. BarryW and other`s would be able to argue on a political basis with their relevant knowledge, but I fear as per the usual, the likes of me intent on saving the British hedgerow and open countryside, with no other reasons wouldn`t be enough. I just visualise wheelie dealing etc, and another reason why I have no faith in politicians.
  Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  13 February 2010     11:1440486
  #4      
  has anyone tried to read it online yet?
  
  i have tried to read these things before, they go on for ages, usually in language that is understood by the people involved, but means nothing to the rest of us.
  
  i will steel myself to have a read later.
• Sid Perkins

  • Location: Dover
  13 February 2010     14:0440498
  #5      
  I don't think wearing a suit of armour is going to help Howard.
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  13 February 2010     17:5440513
  #6      
  All the above are very commendable sectors of housing, but I would like to add that private sector housing is difficult to control with so many absent landlords who really don't care who resides in their proprty, so long as the rent is paid regularly and in many/most cases, by the Government.
  
  In Dover Town, much of the accommodation above shops is inhabited by people on benefits - homeless, jobless and in many cases, when you see them hanging out of upstairs windows slinging insults and food etc. at passers by, useless too.
  
  Town Centre accommodation should be filled with responsible people, but Housing Associations have told me they don't check on the people they let to and they don't seem to have proper conditions on their short term tenancy agreements either.
  
  There's no disgrace in being homeless or jobless, but there is in being useless.
  
  Private sector housing needs better control and conditions - for everyone's benefit.
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  13 February 2010     20:4140518
  #7      
  i have heard that before about housing associations not doing checks on who they house.
  
  i know of a victim i.e. a tenant of a well known housing association dover that has his life made misery by dodgy neighbours either side.
  
  complaints to the housing association fall on deaf ears.
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  14 February 2010     08:2040534
  #8      
  If you send me an email with details Howard, I'll follow it up for him.
  
  I did manage to change some of the tenants in accommodation in Cannon Street flats - I think Sue had a hand in in too.
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Ross Miller

  • Location: London Road, Dover
  • Registered: 17 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 3,709
  14 February 2010     18:4740605
  #9      
  We need to ensure that private and social landlords accept their full responsibilities and also apply similar (if not the same) conditions within their tenancy agreements, so that there is no "easy option" for the small anti-social minority.
  "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
  
  "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
  While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  14 February 2010     19:3440611
  #10      
  That is exactly what should be done Ross and if the tenants make themselves homeless because of their behaviour, they shouldn't be housed again - they should be made to appreciate the consequences and importance of their actions - but they never are.
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  14 February 2010     19:3540612
  #11      
  BUT - and you have started me off again Roger!! - we still end up supporting those homeless because of their behaviour, and what is the alternative?
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  14 February 2010     19:4440614
  #12      
  The Underpass !!
  
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  14 February 2010     20:0840616
  #13      
  
  
  I forgive you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Sue Nicholas

  • Location: river
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 6,025
  14 February 2010     20:1440619
  #14      
  Not easy Roger at the end of the day they come back to be housed somewhere .We need prevention .If you have a person in the private sector causing problems usually you have to grin and put up with it .Not easy to remove someone who owns their own home .
  
  With tenants there is a very fine line drawn .People do have rights and you cannot hound them out .
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  15 February 2010     08:5840654
  #15      
  I agree Sue, but they must be responsible for their actions and their actions (should) have consequences for them.
  
  The CSU can help with many cases of Anti-Social Behaviour, but the really bad ones, play the system.
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  15 February 2010     09:3040657
  #16      
  I agree - people need to be accountable for themselves - but creating further homelessness is never going to be the answer.
• Sue Nicholas

  • Location: river
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 6,025
  15 February 2010     12:5940670
  #17      
  If any of you forum posters read the documents the one to do with Private Sector Housing makes very interesting reading .The number of homes in the private sector which are below Decent Homes Standard is very high in our district .
  I dont think we can feel our work is done .
  
  Next week Im off to Hove to address a conference .I shall be speaking on Private Sector Renewal .I have read it through many times 11 pages which should take twenty minutes to deliver .
  
  It will be an early morning start so let us hope I dont go to sleep .
  
  On the Wednesday Im off to London to attend a conference on Social Housing
  
  Housing is my main interest when Im not being harassed by bus complaints ..
• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  15 February 2010     13:1240671
  #18      
  Sue - I am also intending to be at that conference...........