Action on empty homes in Norwich

12.37.05pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 15th Feb 2007

Hereward slammed the Norwich over the Water Party for failing to do any reseach before making false claims

Cllr Hereward Cooke, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Norwich City Council, has written to the Evening News to answer a letter they published about empty homes.

He writes: "Paul Scruton berates me in no uncertain terms (Feb. 12th) for failing to make sufficient noise about the Council`s own empty homes.

I wish he had done his home-work before he laid into me in an over-the-water sort of way. The properties he mentions in Morley Street are boarded up because they are due to be demolished and then redeveloped by a housing association for rent this year.

There are now no Council properties in Balfour Street because they have been sold under right-to-buy. The Council`s empty properties across the City are monitored regularly and not kept void more than is absolutely necessary.

When I was responsible for Council housing, I ensured that we pursued the highest standards, helped by a professional staff, reduced the time that homes were empty and decided how to use the Government`s new powers for bringing empty homes back into use.

And far from being detached from the needs of the homeless as Mr Scruton intimates, we took their plight very seriously, reduced their number substantially and used our powers to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.

Mr Scruton may have a cynical view of the world, but I believe in looking for the best in people and doing the best possible job," concluded Cllr Cooke.