Re your article Housing crisis leaves families in one room (Elmbridge Comet, December 7).
In the 1950s meeting housing targets, rather than reducing hospital waiting lists, measured Government competence. Much local former council housing was built in that decade, mostly on open land. Now opposing all house building in my patch is deemed electorally propitious.
The inadequate supply of lower-priced housing to buy or rent is, however, beginning to affect the majority who are comfortably housed.
There are fewer people available for lower paid but essential jobs. To quote from a July 2000 Cambridge University report Housing Key Workers in Surrey: If nothing is done, the trends already emerging are likely to worsen. . . growing housing waiting lists and homelessness. . . service sector workers forced, to move away to find housing. . . and once moved away they tend to get jobs locally rather than commute to Surrey.
JOHN PINCHAM
County councillor for Claygate and Hinchley Wood
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