Second homes are the true cause of crisis

10:57am Wednesday 29th August 2012 in Letters

 I read with interest your headline article (Wednesday 15th August "Homes crisis:facts revealed") in last week's Falmouth Packet.

It was noteworthy by virtue of its implied anti-student attitude: i.e. that the rise in occupancy of housing by students is regarded as an imposition to those living in Falmouth and Penryn.

I believe that we are privileged by the influx of students to this area, which had become in recent years filled by an ageing population and a house price speculation zone.

Students bring with them not only money but also creativity, zest and refreshing alternative viewpoints; these characteristics should be admired and incorporated into our local society if Falmouth is not to become a place of retirement and the bigoted attitudes that often go with that.

I see that the article did not address the real cause of housing problems in the area, which is the creation of houses bought by people from richer areas of the UK that are then left unoccupied for months at a time.

These so-called 'second homes' are a misnomer and a profound interference with our communities.

No one person can own two homes: two houses maybe, but the effect of a home is to add to the community for 12 months a year, not just one.

No house that is largely empty can benefit our community: indeed I would go so far as to say that they detract from it. People using their holiday homes are there for the fun that can be had over a short period.

Building a community is a much slower and more profound process than can be achieved in that time. Students bring so much to our lives here, second house owners so little.

If Diana Merrett and the planning department at County Hall want to address housing issues let them look no further than the high percentage of houses left vacant for the ten month 'off' season.

This is a matter well worthy of address, but I somehow doubt that anyone from that department has an appetite for this true and just fight.

Nigel Sellwood

Comments(20)

Gill Zella Martin says...
5:25pm Wed 29 Aug 12

I agree.

Report this post »

Poldark says...
1:13pm Thu 30 Aug 12

Do you have a home Zella and your children and grandchildren then count yourself lucky, as lots of local born people do not ,or is it do as I say not what t do in your case , I find you always err on the side of the students, but are not so magnanimous towards the locals, maybe with a name? such as yours you might like to think of you Cornish fellows who need homes. although I think not!.

Report this post »

Gill Zella Martin says...
10:19pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Poldark, I have only just read this comment of yours and I have to say you are the first person ever on this website whose comment has actually upset me. In my opinion you really should not judge people of which you know nothing about, on their personal circumstances. Not that I am obliged to explain myself to you but yes I did have a home after years of struggling on two incomes and managed to eventually attain a small mortgage, and I mean small. When my husband died in his mid forties with no life insurance I lost my home, my income, my job, and the ability to keep my family all in one area. Yes I do care about local people and affordable housing and social rented and the lack of it, anyone who knows me well would attest to that. Additionally, unlike some people I am quite happy to welcome social housing and travellers sites within any area that I live in. I have two grown up children whose personal circumstances you also know nothing about and I am not prepared to divulge on a public website. To say I am not so magnanimous towards locals, once again you are completely wrong, but I refuse to go into detail. What on earth you mean about my name I have no idea. Yes it is of Cornish origin if that is what you are driving at. If you think I do not care about people or housing just because I happen to agree with a percentage of the above letter then you are mistaken. I suggest that just because you may differ in opinion with someone that you do not make a wild guess about their life.

Report this post »

DCI Jen says...
10:46pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Poldark next time you want to post a comment like that can you at least have the decency to post under your real name.

Report this post »

DCI Jen says...
1:45pm Sat 1 Sep 12

Something else i will point out to you Poldark, i happen to know that Zellas husband was 7 years older than her and when he died 9 years ago she was and is still too young too claim widows pension, she claims no benefits at all and never has and still has no partner so any income she has is hers and she is self sufficient, everything she has she has worked for. I don't know how old you think she is but as for you suggesting her grandchildren own houses, i know for a fact they are only old enough to have a dolls house if they could afford it. I also know when she had to sell her house when her husband died so she could redeem the mortgage that she would no longer be able to afford she sold it below market value for a local person and refused to sell to people looking for a second home. Don't suppose she will be too pleased me telling you all this but it annoys me there are people like you that comment the way you do under a false name.

Report this post »

DCI Jen says...
5:22pm Sat 1 Sep 12

Oh yeah, and i agree with the letter, well done Nigel Sellwood for highlighting the problem of second homes that are left empty for most of the year.

Report this post »

steve eva says...
6:08pm Sat 1 Sep 12

Zella i am sorry that someone who has a balanced view on all that concerns Cornwall has to put up with such cowardly and nasty comments from another person hiding behind a false identity.
For one i read your comments with interest and as a person who as a Councillor expect these kind of comments the Packet should print the real name of anyone attacking those who are not in the public line.
DCI Jen has quite rightly said most of that which i also thought and if this person has any respect he would apologise under his own name without delay.
Sadly i would not hold your breath as i believe this person is gutless.

Report this post »

ronedgcumbe says...
6:52pm Sat 1 Sep 12

Certainly agree with the letter. It is clearly a folly to increase the student population without providing near campus accommodation and not expect a follow on in the already strained rented sector in Falmouth. Certainly feel sorry for the families affected in the town and hope this problem does not spiral onto anything.
As someone who was born,raised and still live within "social housing" I thank zella for highlighting the fact that these sort of attitudes still exist. Hopefully she is not the only one who welcomes gypsies and social housing. Was it not the health service and council housing that resurrected this country after ww2.

Report this post »

ronedgcumbe says...
7:38pm Sat 1 Sep 12

Second homes are not a problem as far as I know in the more industriousness towns, Maybe we have lost the more picaresque but the counties heart is still there.

Report this post »

meerkats says...
8:15pm Sun 2 Sep 12

Zella have only just read the awful comments from Poldark. you shouldnt have to explain yourself to anyone but since you have the coward should apologise at once using their own name. But they seem to have gone quiet so as steve eva says dont hold your breath as they are gutless. i for one always enjoy reading your comments.

Report this post »

DCI Jen says...
9:12pm Sun 2 Sep 12

meerkats, someone has opened a new Packet account 'anon38' and commented on, .'Falmouths housing crisis'. Too much of a coincidence as far as i am concerned.

Report this post »

steve eva says...
10:34pm Sun 2 Sep 12

Probably the same person knowing they have over stepped the mark with their gutless comments and trying to deflect away from an apology.
Poldark Zella is still waiting have the decency to do so and in your own name

Report this post »

Gill Zella Martin says...
8:21am Mon 3 Sep 12

steve eva, thank you very much for your comment it is much appreciated.

Ronedgcumbe, thanks, I will always be for more social housing and I have lived in it myself.

meerkats, thank you, I always read all of your comments too.

Jen, thanks for your support, even if you did put half my life story all over the Packet website :)

Report this post »

Poldark says...
11:43am Mon 3 Sep 12

What a load of rubbish is spouted on here sometimes, If you feel the need put your details on the web it's up to you, but the need for sorrow is for the people desperate for homes not putting student needs before locals..

Report this post »

steve eva says...
12:16pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Poldark if you believe in the rubbish you spout off then put your name to your comment. Even as a Councillor i dont hide behind false identity.
Your gutless and the comments are starting to show your not supported in your quest.

Report this post »

Gill Zella Martin says...
1:16pm Mon 3 Sep 12

steve eva, you have integrity and I respect your opinions because whether we ever agree or disagree on subjects you always post under your own name as I do and you do not launch personal attacks on me just because we may differ in opinion, but then that is the difference in intelligence levels between you and a coward that knows nothing of what they are talking about.

Report this post »

meerkats says...
3:00pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Poldark, if you hadnt made those remarks to Gill then she wouldnt have had to explain herself to you or anyone else.. sorrow is for you for making these remarks in a cowardly way.

Report this post »

DCI Jen says...
4:32pm Mon 3 Sep 12

steve eva and meerkats you are both so right in what you say. I hope Poldark isn't a Councillor as this would be no good for Falmouth at all.

Report this post »

meerkats says...
4:44pm Mon 3 Sep 12

pity the people of Falmouth if he is.!!

Report this post »

seacom says...
9:42pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Hands up those who own more than one property in Falmouth!

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree