Editor

I read with much interest the letters of Charlie Evans on 4 March. Initially, I found myself agreeing with his identification of two pressing issues - the lack of affordable housing and the lack of well-paid jobs.

However, his prescriptive medicines for addressing these issues are the equivalent only of placebos.

Firstly, Charlie advocates for the ‘positive agenda’ of increasing the supply of social housing alongside the supply of private rented accommodation and right to buy. Missing in this advocation is an understanding of the role the private sector has played in inflating house prices in rural areas, such as our own, over the past half century. Private landlords have the potential and self-interest to inflate rent prices.

Meanwhile, right to buy, while crucially bringing local people onto the housing ladder, doesn’t address the affordability issue in the long term as these houses can be sold on in the housing market back to those who have the wealth to buy multiple properties, at the expense of local people looking for a home. The solution to this problem can be found by putting communities in control of housing.

By using municipal and co-operative ownership, we can democratise our housing market and place the needs of communities at the centre of decision-making, rather than the imperative for profit.

It’s only by moving forward with alternative forms of ownership for workplaces,energy production and housing, that we can democratise our local economy and create a Dwyfor Meirionnydd that works for all.

Cian Ireland Labour Dwyfor Meirionnydd Senedd candidate

Have your say on the local issues affecting you - email [email protected] or join in the conversation on our Facebook page