SIX CHILDEN HOMELESS IN EVERY SCHOOL IS FORECAST

 

 

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Bleak outlook if housing

crisis is not tackled

 As electioneering gets underway  for a general election on July 4 there were warnings today about the serious housing crisis and that the issue needs to be tackled.

Kate Henderson (left) chief executive of the National Housing Federation , said: “Without urgent action from the next government, by the end of the next parliament, one in five households will be in unaffordable homes and six children in every school will be homeless.

“This crisis is the result of decades of underinvestment in social housing and short-term, piecemeal approaches the housing policy, but it can be solved.

“The beginning of a new parliamentary term is the best time for bold action and long-term thinking, and our sector is ready to work with whichever party is in power to build the affordable homes the country needs.”

The NHF boss said the membership organisation will continue to call on all political parties to commit to a strategic and properly funded long-term plan for housing.

Barring a dramatic upset, all polling suggests Labour will form the next government. Kick-starting development will not be the only issue in the party’s in Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, the housing charity, said: “No political party can consider itself ready to lead the country unless it is willing to tackle housing head-on.

“Runaway rents, rising evictions and record levels of homelessness are destroying people’s lives; 145,800 children have been condemned to spend their early years in grotty, cramped hostels and B&Bs.

“Meanwhile, private renting remains completely broken, with tenants being forced to pay over the odds for homes that are often in dire condition. As voters gear up to head to the ballot box, lip service is no longer going to cut it – they need a genuine commitment from politicians of all stripes to end the housing emergency.”

 Community Voice Carlisle is the blog of Carlisle Tenants` and Residents`Federation. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 52

SECRET SPITFIRE CITY AND LAKES TOWN KESWICK

 

 

Garage classroom lessons to beat Hitler 

A television programme last week about  Battle of Britain Spitfires had an echo in wartime Keswick. Places in the town came to resemble the Wiltshire city of Salisbury where  an emergency method of manufacturing the planes was set up.

Derwentwater Hotel, Portinscale...once an army driving and maintainance school .

All the commercial garages  in the city were commandeered and converted into small units manufacturing Spitfires in the story told on Channel Five, “Secret Spitfires: how Britain Won the War.”

The same thing  happened at Keswick where, like Salisbury, all the commercial garages were commandeered. But not for Spitfires.. The garages were taken   to become”classrooms”, places to teach soldiers how to  care for army  vehicles, particularly on a battlefield.

 The garages became part of  a driving and maintenance school set up by the Royal Army Service Corps in the Derwentwater Hotel in  nearby Portinscale.

Dunbobbin`s garage in Helvellyn Street, Keswick Motor Company  premises in Penrith Road, Quirk`s garage in Main Street and the Cumberland bus garage in Tithebarn Street all  took on an army  khaki look as they became staffed  by soldier instructors.

And vehicle maintainance learned in Keswick garages kept the wheels turning on British army bren gun carriers, lorries, vans, tanks and Jeeps despite everything Hitler could throw at them.

Community Voice Carlisle is the blog of Carlisle Tenants` and Residents`Federation. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 52