Conservative-led Government gives £3 million for housing in Wirral

Poor standard and overcrowded houisng in many parts of Wirral have received a boost from an extra £3 million announced by the Minister for Housing this week.  Grant Shapps MP gave the news following a bid for the cash during last year's Conservative-led Council. 

Speaking on a visit to Wirral, Mr Shapps said: "Under the previous controversial scheme, local communities in some of the most deprived areas of the country were told they would see a transformation of their areas. But in reality, this amounted to bulldozing buildings and knocking down neighbourhoods, pitting neighbour against neighbour, demolishing our Victorian heritage and leaving families trapped in abandoned streets. This programme was a failure and an abject lesson to policy makers.

Local Councillors Chris Blakeley (Moreton West & Saughall Massie) and Lesley Rennie (Wallasey Ward) met with Grant Shapps and welcomed the announcement. 

Cllr. Rennie said: "The Coalition Government has announced a £3 million boost to help Wirral tackle the problem of poor and overcrowded housing.  Under the last Labour Government, home ownership was falling, waiting lists were rising and house building was at the lowest level since 1924.  This is good news for Wirral.  The responsibility is now on the Council to make sure communities are consulted and that the money is spent well."

So far the Conservative-led Government has:   

1. Increased the discounts available under Right to Buy of 50% for social tenants
2. Guaranteed mortgages up to 95% of the loan-to-value
3. Supported builders struggling to get cash upfront
4. Announced plans to bring more houses back into use
5. Kept mortgage rates low