Housing: the big issue in St Clement’s Ward

Liberal Democrat campaigner in St Clement’s Ward, GRAHAM JONES, says a strategic city-wide plan is needed to tackle the issues around housing for students in East Oxford. ‘With the Labour-led City Council’s present piecemeal approach, nobody benefits – not students, not residents,’ he says. ‘We need joined-up policies, and to get everyone involved in the process: the universities, local street and area forums, student representatives, businesses, responsible landlords, and letting agents – as well as the city and county councils and THE NEXT MP FOR OXFORD EAST, STEVE GODDARD. 

‘Education brings wealth and vitality to Oxford. But we must stop the drift towards polarised communities, overblown house prices, and a drop in the quality of life, with bits of East Oxford looking like a ‘sink estate’ in one of the more deprived areas of the country.

‘First we have to go after the bad landlords who let students down and act irresponsibly. Why has Labour dragged its feet on this for five years? When will we see the compulsory register which Liberal Democrats have been demanding and will deliver if we win control on May 6? (The Green Party can’t do this!) We also need to 

* Start a programme of proactive inspections of houses in the worst affected areas

* Ensure that the universities provide more halls of residence

* Use existing housing law to rein in the spread of below-standard multi-occupancy

* Engage students and residents together in local action and welfare projects

* Hire ‘green advisers’ to raise recycling levels and tidy up front gardens

* Provide more off-street parking for residents, and tougher traffic management

* Persuade universities to introduce enforceable codes of conduct

* Ramp up the provision of affordable housing and reduce council house waiting lists

‘We need a fairer East Oxford: for the students we welcome here and who are our future; for the residents who see prices going up and standards going down; for responsible landlords who want a fairer market; for small businesses; and for public service workers who deliver the services we pay for.

‘Bring real change to East Oxford on May 6 by sending STEVE GODDARD to Parliament as our MP and electing me one of your city councillors. Thanks!’                                                 Graham Jones PS: I want to hear from residents and students. Please tell me your viewsE-mail me at <jones4stclems@aim.com>  Lib-Dems: http://oxfordeastlibdems.org.uk/Visit my campaign web-site: www.grahamjones2.focusteam.org Printed, published and promoted by Graham Jones on behalf of Oxford East Liberal Democrats all at 58 Maidcroft Road, Oxford OX4 3EW.