Villagers denied
homes ‘face
slow death’

Councils across North Yorkshire are continuing to battle to ensure adequate numbers of affordable properties are built to address the problems often being most keenly felt in isolated communities, where there is no scope for building large housing developments to help counter soaring property prices.

Yesterday Ryedale District Council said two surveys were being carried out in two Ryedale parishes – Slingsby and Burythorpe – to determine the need for affordable homes for local people.

Kim Robertshaw, the council’s housing manager, recently highlighted the risk of small village schools closing if local families and young people do not have access to affordable homes in villages such as Slingsby.

Although school numbers are falling across Ryedale at the moment, they are forecast to increase in the near future so council chiefs say it is important village schools remain open.

She said: “Villages face a slow death without local people – both young and old – being able to access affordable housing.”

The National Housing Federation has said families with young children are being priced out of villages and forced to move to bigger towns with cheaper housing.

Council bosses at Ryedale are urging people to get involved with the housing surveys, as without this evidence of need affordable housing schemes, will not go ahead.

If anyone in Slingsby or Burythorpe parishes are in housing need and want to remain in their own communities, they need to contact Colin Huby, Ryedale Rural Housing Enabler at Ryedale House, Housing Services, Malton, YO17 7ZH to get a questionnaire. Or they can call 01653 600666, extension 354.