‘Open temporary housing villages to locals as well’
DEPUTIES want any temporary housing villages opened to locals as well as guest workers.
Policy & Resources’ Budget proposal to set aside approximately £5m. to build a village for construction industry workers and other temporary housing for key workers was amended to make any such schemes available to anyone.
The senior committee backed the amendment, which was proposed by Deputy Aidan Matthews in the absence of its original proposer, Deputy Andrew Taylor, and at the end of a short debate only two members voted against, Deputies David De Lisle and Mark Helyar.
‘Why limit this to workers from outside the island when we know we have a housing crisis?’ asked Deputy Matthews.
‘It seems unfair to have a housing proposal which would exclude locals.’
He said that conditions were difficult for many in the private rental market.
States officials have already started looking at various undisclosed sites which could accommodate temporary homes similar to those used for non-local workers on the airport project more than a decade ago.
P&R believes temporary villages would provide an immediate boost to the capacity of the construction industry in the island and stimulate housebuilding.
Deputy Sue Aldwell wanted more information to satisfy concerns about opening up ‘sub-standard’ housing to locals.
‘The housing we put in for builders is short-term.
‘Are we going to end up with something like a ghetto because we’ve allowed everyone to move in and we can’t move them out?’
Deputy Peter Roffey had similar concerns. He was among several members seeking clarification over what was meant by ‘temporary housing’, though Deputy Marc Leadbeater urged colleagues to focus at a higher level.
‘The proposition as it stands is saying to people out there who do not have accommodation “we need to build a hospital and schools – let’s get people in, probably from the UK, and house them for a year or so, but local people can sofa surf or sleep in their car”,’ he said.
‘The message that sounds out is really poor. It is discriminatory.
‘And this might also give us a kick in the rear end actually to get some accommodation built for local people.’
