Labour fail to support better student housing (Greg Stone)

Labour fail to support better student housing

September 27, 2009 7:10 PM

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman for Newcastle East Greg Stone has expressed disappointment at the decision of the city council Labour group to try to block the city council's student housing strategy. The strategy has been "called in" by Opposition members.

Greg said "When Labour ran the city council they had no student housing strategy at all, creating a big shortfall of available purpose built student accommodation and allowing the unchecked growth of the private rented sector.

Newcastle East residents and students alike recognise the importance of having a sensible policy in place to expand purpose built student housing and increasing regulation of the private rented sector. This will reduce student housing costs by expanding the supply of accommodation at a time when student numbers are expected to level off.

Labour's plans are financially illiterate. They appear to either want the council taxpayer to subsidise student housing costs at the expense of other housing provision, or have developers contribute this, but increasing the costs on providers would inevitably increase rents for the majority.

I was particularly angry to hear Labour's crocodile tears over student debt. They have presided over record increases in student debt through introduction of fees and mismanagement of the loan payment system. If Labour really cared about student hardship they would join the Lib Dems in campaigning to scrap tuition fees.

I am confident the council student housing strategy is the right way to proceed and as a Heaton councillor I know that residents are strongly supportive of the steps the Lib Dem administration are taking. Labour are badly out of touch on this issue and it is shameful that they are failing to support improvements in purpose built and private rented student housing provision."