THE leader of Thurrock Council, cllr John Kent has expressed his disappointment over the visit of the housing minister, Greg Clarke to Thurrock.
It is understood that the minister visited homes in West Thurrock as part of the promotion of the controversial "Help to Buy" scheme.
Cllr Kent said
"It was interesting to see the new government chose Thurrock to launch their new housing programme aimed at helping people onto the housing ladder but It’s a shame the Secretary of State didn’t take the time to look at what we are doing here to help local people find local homes as I firmly believe we have been doing more than pretty much anywhere else in the country to help local people find local homes, in the council-owned, social housing, private rented and now in the privately owned sectors.
"Over the past year or so we have brought in nearly £27 million of funding to build over 700 homes for local people across the borough. This includes new council homes in Grays and Corringham as well affordable rent, low cost sale and equity sale homes set for Tilbury. We are also building home specifically for older people in South Ockendon and Tilbury.
"It’s also worth pointing out that many people in Thurrock live in homes owned by housing associations. These organisations are horrified by government plans to offer tenants similar right to buy as with council houses – a very expensive policy that would benefit relatively few tenants but undermines the supply of affordable housing and relies on councils selling their homes to pay for the policy.”
