Demand Peaks as Swindon's Empty Homes Increase by a Third

2.15.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Aug 2006

Empty Homes action

Local Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to tackle this issue of abandoned properties causing a nuisance in Swindon. There are estimated to be 2,374 abandoned properties across Swindon - an increase of one third from the previous year! In Swindon there are nearly 1,000 who are in temporary accommodation or are homeless.

The drive is part of a national Liberal Democrat campaign to tackle the problem of empty homes.

Councillor Dave Wood (LD, Eastcott) said

"It's a national disgrace that a town like Swindon should have 1,000 in urgent need of housing whilst more than double that lay empty.

"We are not talking about Labour-style tactics of heavy-handed, forced possession of homes of the recently deceased, but we need community action to identify properties that are attracting crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

We can then report these properties to the council so that they can be dealt with appropriately, either by being secured or refurbished and released for people who desperately need housing in the area."

Liberal Democrat housing Spokesperson Dan Rogerson MP said:

"I am delighted that the Empty Homes campaign is being taken up in Swindon.

"Nationally there are more than 100,000 households in temporary accommodation, and 1 in 10 children live in overcrowded accommodation. Yet there are more than 700,000 empty homes waiting to be filled."

Anyone wishing to report an abandoned home that is causing a nuisance should contact Cllr Stan Pajak on 634936 or visit our our campaign page:

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Report an empty home here.